Theo James (Downton fans will remember him as the ill-fated Mr. Pamuk) has been announced as the male lead, Four, in the film version of Veronica Roth's YA novel Divergent, set in post-apocalyptic Chicago. Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) is already set to play the heroine, Beatrice "Tris" Prior. The Los Angeles Times also says that "Miles Teller, star of the recent 21 & Over, is in negotiations to play one of the villains of the film, Peter; Irish actor Ray Stevenson (Dexter) is in talks to portray Tris's father, Andrew Prior, while an offer is out to Aaron Eckhart for the role of Marcus, Andrew's colleague, all according to people familiar with the discussions."
"Other cast members recently announced include Kate Winslet; Maggie Q as the tattoo parlor owner Tori; Zoe Kravitz as Beatrice's friend Christina; and Ansel Elgort, who plays Caleb, Tris's brother. Australian actor Jai Courtney, who portrayed Bruce Willis's son in the most recent Die Hard, will play Dauntless leader Eric."
Production is scheduled to begin in Chicago in April, with Neil Burger (Limitless) directing. Vanessa Taylor (Game of Thrones) wrote the script based on an original draft by Evan Daugherty (Snow White and the Huntsman). Summit Entertainment plans to release the film March 21, 2014.