Kate Winslet Joins Cast of Divergent, Based on First Book in Veronica Roth's Dystopian Trilogy

Oscar winner will play Jeanine Matthews, leader of the Erudite faction, according to Summit Entertainment

Forget The Hunger Games. Kate Winslet has converged with the cast of Divergent.

Summit Entertainment announced today that the Oscar winner has joined the futuristic action thriller, based on the first book in a young-adult trilogy by Veronica Roth (the third installment of which is due in October).

Winslet, although there's no "layer of pudge around her middle," is onboard to play Jeanine Matthews, leader—in a dystopian version of Chicago—of the Erudite faction, whose sworn purpose is to acquire all available knowledge.

You know, about everything. Ever.

Securing roles in proposed franchises based on wildly popular young-adult novels seems to be all the rage now among the estimable-thespian set, with Harry Potter having started a trend more than a decade ago and The Hunger Games following suit.

Along with Winslet, Divergent's confirmed cast includes Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Zoë Kravitz, Jai Courtney and Maggie Q, and Aaron Eckhart is rumored to be playing heroine Beatrice Prior's father, Andrew.

The film is due in theaters March 21, 2014.