Jeff Daniels to star in 'Divergent' series

Los Angeles: Actor Jeff Daniels is in final negotiations to star in the upcoming two movies of the hit "Divergent" franchise.

Daniels, 60, will appear in "Allegiant: Part 1" and "Part 2", if the deal is sealed, said The Hollywood Reporter.

Robert Schwentke is directing Part 1, which will begin shooting in May. A helmer for Part 2 has not yet been announced.

The movies continue Lionsgate's adaptation of the best-selling book series "Divergent" by Veronica Roth and sees actress Shailene Woodley star as Tris, a young woman, who does not fall into any of the factions governing her post-apocalyptic society and ends up leading an uprising with her close friends.

The two-part movie is adapted from "Allegiant" novel of the "Divergent" book series.

Daniels will play David, the leader of the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. The agency is behind the creation of the societies that Tris was living in and the reason behind their creation is slowly revealed (mainly in Part 2) to be nefarious.

Doug Wick, Lucy Fisher and Pouya Shahbazian are producing the movies, with Part 1 having a March 18, 2016 release date.