Theo James Rejects 'Divergent' Blockbuster Typography: Roles Like This Are 'Pretty Boring'

Theo James steps away from typical idol roles.

The 'Divergent' alum reflected on being "in charge" of the young adult film franchise that debuted in 2014. James starred as the main love interest opposite Shailene Woodley in the new adaptations. The third film's box office flop in 2016 ultimately led to a fourth film and spin-off series being dropped.

"You do a certain type of movie and you sign contracts where you're beholden to those roles for a certain period of time and people see you in a certain light that you have to get yourself out of," James said. "That's one hundred percent the case with actors - and it was definitely the case with me."

James added that he was reluctant to act in "those types of films" and promote them.

“I felt like I didn’t have the fluidity to move in the directions I wanted,” the “Time Traveler’s Wife” alum said. "You really are in a certain type of role - and those roles can be pretty boring."

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Similarly, Aubrey Plaza, co-star of Season 2 of James' "The White Lotus," has opened up about being typecast after playing the role of deadpan government employee April Ludgate in the beloved sitcom "Parks and Recreation".

"I don't mind being typecast because I feel like I was so lucky to be in 'Parks and Recreation', and it was one of my first big jobs. , and I'm so associated with that character," Plaza said earlier this year. "I think there's been years of me being on this show where I was like I was only offered those kinds of plays, and that's exactly what happens. You do something, the people react to it and they want to see you do it over and over and over again. I think you just have to be really proactive about changing that narrative on your own."

Plaza continued, "It gave me the motivation to prove myself. I think for a while I felt like, 'Oh man, I'm being put in a box, and I don't don't like it, so I'm gonna fight to get out of it and show people what I can do,' or something. But then I started to take it as a gift. If I convince people so well that I was that thing and then I do something totally different, it will be that much more satisfying to surprise them. So I started trying to think of it like that and be a little bit more positive and less bitter about it."

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