'Ascendant' News: Theo James, Shailene Woodley, Miles Teller Not Keen On Joining TV Spinoff

Things are looking bleaker that Lionsgate's planned "Ascendant" television series will materialize with the original cast members as they are not too keen on joining the television spin-off. The plan to shift the franchise to a TV spinoff came after "Allegiant," the third movie in the saga underperformed at the box office when it released in March last year. With the way things are shaping up, it is looking more likely that the studio would have to recast for the roles if it plans to go ahead with the TV finale.

According to lead star Theo James, who played Four in the first three movies in the dystopian franchise, while he is thankful for the fans' support, he is unlikely to join the television series. He also expressed doubt that his co-stars will also sign on for a TV spin-off seeing as the original deal was to complete a film saga, reported Too Fab.

"My message would be 'Thanks for the support.' I think it's a shame that we can't finish the story, but I think it's evolving in a place where the actors that have been in the three movies probably won't be in whatever it evolves to in the future," he said.

Further dimming the hopes of fans that the original Four would be part of the franchise is his recent casting in the play "Sex with Strangers" which premiered in the UK early this year, a project that the actor is very much focused on at present.

His on-screen love interest Shailene Woodley, who played Tris in the films, was one of the first to express her opposition to the studio's decision to turn the concluding chapter in the story into a TV event. She said that she signed up to do a set of films and not a television series. Whiplash star Miles Teller, who played Peter in the series, pretty much echoed her sentiments, E! reported.

The actor said that Lionsgate's sudden decision to pull the plug on the final film puts the franchise in a different set of circumstance and the actors in a very complicated position. He, however, did not close any doors to the possibility of joining the television spin-off.