Get ready to choose your faction all over again. Veronica Roth is resurrecting her blockbuster Divergent series with a brand-new novel, The Sixth Faction, set to hit shelves on October 6, 2026. This time, she's taking fans back to the beginning—but with a twist that could change everything.
For those who missed the dystopian YA wave of the early 2010s, Divergent introduced us to Beatrice "Tris" Prior, a young woman living in a society divided into five factions based on personality traits. At her Choosing Ceremony, Tris must decide which faction to join for life. She plans to leave her family's Abnegation faction for the brave Dauntless—but when tragedy strikes during the ceremony, her world is upended, and she's thrust into an underground rebellion. That's the classic setup, but The Sixth Faction promises an alternate-universe take that reimagines Tris and Four's story.
Roth recently opened up to ELLE about why she decided to revisit the franchise after years of complicated feelings. "I have a lot of positive associations with Divergent, and a lot of negative associations," she admitted. "I started to feel protective of this younger version of me. The way that I know to recapture joy is to make something new. What works about Divergent is some of the cheesiness. I put everything I learned into this."
The original Divergent trilogy became a cultural phenomenon, selling millions of copies worldwide and spawning a film franchise that starred Shailene Woodley as Tris and Theo James as Four. The 2014 movie adaptation raked in nearly $289 million globally, and the three films combined earned over $765 million. The cast was stacked: Kate Winslet as the villainous Jeanine Matthews, Miles Teller as Peter Hayes, and Ansel Elgort as Caleb Prior. But despite the strong start, box office returns dwindled with each sequel. 2016's Allegiant managed just $179 million worldwide, and the planned fourth film, Ascendant, was ultimately scrapped. A TV series was floated as a replacement, but Woodley and James declined to participate, putting the final nail in the coffin.
So will Divergent ever return to theaters? Don't hold your breath. While the new novel might reignite interest, there's no indication that a big-screen revival is in the works. Still, for fans of the books, The Sixth Faction offers a fresh way to experience the world that captivated a generation. And who knows? If the novel is a hit, Hollywood might come calling again.
In the meantime, if you're looking for other sci-fi and fantasy adventures to fill the void, check out our list of fantasy games for new players or dive into some hidden gem fantasy games. And for those who prefer their dystopias on screen, there's always the chance to revisit Spirited Away in theaters this October.
The Sixth Faction arrives October 6, 2026. Will you choose to return to the faction-filled world? Let us know in the comments.
