Divergent is a popular young adult sci-fi movie series that is set in a post-apocalyptic Chicago, where society is divided into five Factions — Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the kind), Erudite (the intelligent), Abnegation (the selfless), and Candor (the honest).
These groups are each characterized by specific values, personality traits, and social allegiances.
The series follows the journey of the protagonist, Tris Prior, as she discovers her own identity and challenges the social structure of her world.
Shailene Woodley and Theo James starred as the leads in the series. But did you know that during the casting process for choosing Tris’s romantic interest in the Divergent series, Woodley had a strict requirement? Later, it appeared that her co-star, Theo James, met all the criteria.
Shailene Woodley’s Strict Criteria for Her Love Interest in Divergent
It’s hard to imagine anyone else in the place of Woodley and James, as they were the perfect pairing in the Divergent series. But before the actor was cast, Woodley already knew what her ideal love interest should look like in the series. The American actress once told MTV News:
“The thing about Four is that he has to be a man. No feminine actors, please. You cannot walk in that room in pretty little boots and pretend you’re a man. I’m sorry.”
It’s clear that she wanted a masculine quality, which should be more than just looking strong. Woodley continued:
“This character needs to be extremely masculine, and his eyes need to scream vulnerability and sensitivity. It’s really hard to find in a dude, especially a dude who can act.”
The actress was so determined to find the co-star because the relationship between Four and her character, Tris, could make or break the whole series. So, she considered it to be a great factor.
Shailene Woodley Explained Her Perfect Chemistry With Theo James
In an interview with Daily Beast, Shailene Woodley said she was confident about Theo James as “Four” in the Divergent film series. She explained what set him apart from others who have auditioned for the role:
“We auditioned a lot of guys, and a lot of these actors were playing male, masculine leaders. Even if they were good, they were still acting it. Theo walked in and just demanded it with his presence. Theo is smart as a whip—he majored in philosophy and traveled the world before he even became an actor—so he’s had a full life before the industry, and he didn’t feel like he had to prove his masculinity.”
The Robots star knew Theo James was the right candidate for her in Divergent, and it wasn’t just her — the whole Divergent team saw it, especially when they were kissing on screen. Everyone said she and James “have such crazy chemistry,” but she didn’t realize it until she saw the movie.
The actress also shared that James was not in the series “for the glamour, the toys, or the excess,” neither was she, so they both respected each other for keeping it real. She also admitted that this was the reason their chemistry grew like wildfire as teammates.
Source: MTV News, Daily Beast
