Insurgent, based on the second book in Veronica Roth‘s Divergent trilogy, already has one big name in Octavia Spencer, playing Amity leader Johanna Reyes, and now it (probably) has two more: Naomi Watts is in “final negotiations” to play Factionless leader and Four’s mom Evelyn in the remaining movies—that’s Insurgent and the two Allegiant movies, because of course the book’s been split up. And Daniel Dae-Kim of Lost and Hawaii Five-0 will play Candor leader Jack Kang. Newcomer Suki Waterhouse joined last month as Marlene, as did Jonny Weston (John Dies at the End, Chasing Mavericks) as a yet-unspecified character.
I didn’t finish the trilogy, so I never found out whether Kate Winslet‘s Jeanine and Evelyn engage in a rap battle while Johanna and Jack throw tomatoes at them from the roof of a nearby building while bonding over their mutual love of cross-stitch. Someone tell me whether that happens? ‘Cause I might see the movie then.
Edit: It’s been pointed out that Roth has stated she envisioned Evelyn as a “woman of color,” which would make Watts’ casting a case of whitewashing. It’s a topic we’ve addressed at length on the site before. Hollywood. Can we stop?
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