Look out, Hunger Games, there’s a new dystopian fantasy series about to hit theaters. Until now, Shailene Woodley has best been known for her roles in indie hits like The Spectacular Now and for the Oscar-nominated film The Descendants. But the 22-year-old actress is about to make a name for herself in Divergent — the latest popular fantasy series to hit the big screen.
Woodley plays Beatrice “Tris” Prior, the complex main character, who when forced to take an aptitude test, excels in three categories. In this futuristic version of Chicago, teens are placed into one of five personality factions — Abnegation (selfless), Amity (peaceful), Candor (honest), Dauntless (brave), and Erudite (knowledgeable). Tris is known as a “Divergent” or someone who fits into multiple categories. This makes her a risk to Jeanine Matthews (Kate Winslet), the leader of the Erudite.
The film’s final trailer features Tris fighting to keep her true nature a secret as Jeanine closes in on her. The fearless teen ultimately joins the Dauntless faction, testing her bravery while trying to stay alive.
Though Woodley filmed scenes as the new Mary Jane Watson for the sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man, her role was later cut in favor of Emma Stone‘s Gwen Stacy. So this will be her first big blockbuster. She is also set to star in the emotional film adaptation of the popular young adult novel The Fault in Our Stars, which centers on two teenage cancer patients.
Ironically, her Spectacular Now love interest, Miles Teller, is playing one of Tris’ biggest antagonists Peter in Divergent. And her The Fault in Our Stars love interest, Ansel Elgort, is playing Tris’ brother Caleb Prior.
Divergent hits theaters March 21, 2014.