The actress will follow up the “Divergent” sequel with Gus Van Sant’s “Sea of Trees” opposite Matthew McConaughey.
Naomi Watts has signed on to join the next three films in Lionsgate’s Divergent franchise.
The actress, who recently committed to star in Gus VanSant’s Sea of Trees oppositeMatthew McConaughey, is joining the cast of Divergentsequel Insurgent as Evelyn, leader of the Factionless. Watts’ deal calls for to co-star in the futuristic franchise’s two final movies, which are based onVeronica Roth’s YA novel Allegiant, the final book in the Divergent trilogy.
Watts will jump right toInsurgent, which began shooting last week in Atlanta.Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ansel Elgort, Kate Winslet and Miles Teller — who all appeared in Divergent — return for the sequel. Watts joins Octavia Spencer as new additions to the cast. After Insurgent wraps in September, Watts will move on to Sea of Trees, which will take her through November. The in-demand actress is mulling a number of films after that.
Robert Schwentke, who replaced Divergenthelmer Neil Burger, is directing Insurgent from a screenplay written by Brian Duffield and Akiva Goldsman.
Red Wagon’s Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher are producing alongside Pouya Shahbazian.
Insurgent puts Watts, who typically gravitates toward indie projects with auteurs, in the YA tentpole game. Divergent, which opened March 21, has earned $267 million worldwide. Still, she is no stranger to commercial films, having starred in Peter Jackson’sKing Kong and The Ring films. Watts has three films awaiting release: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Birdman, The Weinstein Co.’s St. Vincent — opposite Melissa McCarthy — and Noah Baumbach’s While We’re Young.
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