Shailene Woodley embodied the indomitable Verity in “Divergent,” bringing fierce spirit and martial prowess to an adaptation fueled by rebellion. Beyond performing thrilling stunts, Woodley harbored aspirations beyond popcorn entertainment. She desperately wanted “Divergent” to spark a renaissance in depictions of female action heroes after seeing a dearth on screen. During interviews, she repeatedly touted the importance of proving that female-driven action could capture critical adoration, box office domination, and more importantly – widespread fandom acceptance. Woodley craved something beyond the typically passive or damsel-in-distress roles long seen as permissible for women. Think about it: could a story like “Tomb Raider’ in those pre-“Gone Girl “preps been successful without a charismatic lead like Woodley anchoring it
Yet, despite valiant attempts both on set and during promotions, “Divergent” ‘s reception didn’t perfectly align with Woodley’s ambitions. The box office numbers were solid but insufficient to guarantee a sprawling franchise equivalent to “Hunger Games.”
Several factors contributed to the series not achieving Woodley’s full vision. The genre already saw success with franchises like “Alien” and “Nikita,” proving there was an audience. Critics loved films featuring actresses like Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow or Angela Basset in “What’s Love Got to Do With It”, though it never reached a “global takeover”
Woodley acknowledged this shortcoming while publicly championing for a resurgence of authentic female representation in action: “If we could all see more diverse types – be it gender, race – as characters who are leading powerful stories…wouldn’t those feel bigger and more impactful?” It’s possible she recognized that societal perception shifted quicker than the film industry adapted
Still, ‘Divergent'”s cultural impact resonated:
The success of ” Wonder Woman” soon after proved that the demand for well-articulated, heroic female leads absolutely existed. Woodley laid the groundwork by consistently expressing her own desire, hoping it wouldn’t be another fleeting trend but a long-form change within Hollywood. While “Divergent“ didn’t rewrite Hollywood in its image, it did plant the seeds in dialogue and awareness for future filmmakers to nurture
Her willingness to vocalize her dream made Woodley more than just an intrepid protagonist battling dystopian terrors; she’s a potent example of how individual actors push boundaries beyond roles and directly influence the stories we see unfolding across screens tomorrow.
