Through the franchise’s ups and downs, The Divergent Series has stumbled its way into attracting a cast of talented actors of all ages. And that’s how somehow the series that previously lured Kate Winslet, Octavia Spencer, and Naomi Watts into its happily awaiting arms has landed yet another star on the same level of their acting prowess. New reports have revealed that Jeff Daniels has become the latest addition to the series, and will star in both The Divergent Series: Allegiant Parts I and II.
Warning: There are spoilers for The Divergent Series discussed in this article. If you'd like to be surprised, turn back now.
The Hollywood Reporter scooped the story, stating that Daniels' role in the final two films in The Divergent Series is that of, "David, the leader of the Bureau Of Genetic Welfare." Even by that title alone, you can tell that this isn't going to be the role of someone who wants to help Tris and her colleagues, and the trade report confirms as much. Daniels' character will play a part in fulfilling the cliffhanger at the end of The Divergent Series: Insurgent involving a video message from Tris' ancestor, Edith Prior, who claimed that Divergents were created for a purpose. Looks like that purpose isn't going to be as hopeful as she'd have thought.
The addition of Jeff Daniels to the cast of the wildly popular YA dystopia is definitely a step in the right direction, as it only stands to make the finished product more interesting to watch. Granted, The Divergent Series isn't to everyone's liking, but you have to admit that the cast helps elevate what could be another generically boring adaptation of the source material. The best example of such a performance is Miles Teller as Peter, who has made his turn as a wise-ass a memorable affair in movies that stripped his character of his originally brutal nature. Adding Daniels into the villain column not only makes things more interesting in the series' finale, it also helps compensate for the fact that we lost Kate Winslet's Jeanine to an execution at the end of The Divergent Series: Insurgent.
If The Divergent Series has given film fans anything to look forward to, it's the impressive cast of stars playing side characters of both good and evil intent. Though let's face it, the evil side has the deck stacked in its favor at this point. Giving Jeff Daniels' his first villain role since 2012's Looper is an exciting prospect, especially since if he brings even a fraction of that performance's excitement to The Divergent Series: Allegiant Parts I and II, it'll be worth watching in spades.
The Divergent Series: Allegiant Part I opens on March 18, 2016; with Part II closing the series out on March 24, 2017.
