In a move that will come as little surprise, Lionsgate has announced (11) it is splitting up the third entry of its YA Divergent adaptation into two films.

Allegiant – Part 1 will be released on March 18 2016 while Allegiant – Part 2 rounds out the franchise on March 24 2017.

Shailene Woodley and Theo James star in the Veronica Roth adaptation about a young lovers who rebel against a dystopian future order.

Divergent, the first film in the series, opened last month and has grossed $117m in North America.

The film arrives in France, Germany, Russia, Australia and Scandinavia this weekend as the international box office assault begins in earnest.

The second episode Insurgent starts production next month and is scheduled to open on March 20, 2015.