When the film Divergent premiered in 2014, it captivated audiences with its dystopian world, tightly choreographed action scenes, and gritty physical performances. Much of the movie’s thrill stemmed from how authentically characters moved through the environment — leaping between rooftops, vaulting over obstacles, and sprinting through the urban ruins of a divided Chicago. Observant fans and film analysts have often wondered: were the extras in Divergent trained in parkour to achieve such physical realism?
TL;DR
Yes, many of the extras in Divergent, particularly those portraying members of the Dauntless faction, underwent physical training that included elements of parkour. This was part of the filmmakers’ effort to portray the faction’s agility, fearlessness, and warrior spirit authentically. Parkour experts and stunt coordinators worked with the actors and extras to ensure that movement was dynamic and believable. The training helped to ground the film’s fast-paced action sequences with a layer of realism not often seen in dystopian science fiction.
Understanding the Dauntless Aesthetic
To understand why parkour was relevant to the extras’ training, it’s important to first examine the characteristics of the Dauntless faction within the Divergent universe. Representing bravery and action, Dauntless members are depicted as thrill-seekers known for their physical prowess, often seen running across train roofs, jumping off buildings, and performing acrobatic feats that seem to defy physics.
The producers and directors of the film wanted to ensure that the movement of these characters matched their fearless reputation. This meant bringing in movement techniques that would complement such a persona — and parkour, a discipline focused on moving quickly and efficiently through urban environments, fit perfectly.
What Exactly is Parkour?
Parkour is not just flipping or jumping for style; it’s about training the body and mind to overcome physical obstacles. Originating in France, it emphasizes safe, efficient movement — running, vaulting, climbing, and rolling — often performed in an urban setting.
Parkour became popular in cinema during the early 2000s, with films like District B13 and Casino Royale showcasing its daring physical dynamics. By the time Divergent entered production, many film directors had begun incorporating parkour into action films to keep sequences fresh and immersive. For Divergent, it was a natural fit.
Were Extras Actually Trained in Parkour?
The short answer is: yes, many were. While the primary actors — including Shailene Woodley and Theo James — underwent specialized stunt training, a significant number of background performers and extras portraying Dauntless initiates were also enrolled in movement and parkour coaching sessions.
- Stunt Coordinators: Professional stunt coordinators often brought in experienced parkour trainers to design the sequences and prepare actors.
- Parkour Workshops: During pre-production, selected extras attended physical conditioning programs that incorporated elements of parkour, such as wall-runs, landings, and rolls.
- On-Set Application: Trained extras were used in medium to long shots, where more fluid and natural movement was required.
According to behind-the-scenes interviews with the film’s stunt team, the intent was not to make every extra a full-fledged traceur (the term for a parkour practitioner), but to provide them with enough training to move believably and safely within the fast-paced action environment.
What Did the Training Entail?
Extras who were selected for close interaction with main stunts went through intensive physical readiness regimens. Components included:
- Landing Techniques: Learning how to fall and roll without injury, crucial for scenes involving rooftop jumps or rolling after a leap.
- Vaulting and Climbing: Techniques for moving over walls or railings smoothly — a staple of parkour and a common task in the Dauntless compound.
- Chase Sequences: Training to maintain speed and agility while weaving through complex environments.
Several extras have spoken to media outlets and fan blogs about how exhilarating — and physically taxing — the training could be. Many were surprised to find that they were expected to rehearse 3 to 4 hours a day during certain production phases, focusing on both choreography and spontaneous movement practice.
Why Not Use Only Stunt Professionals?
One could rightly ask — why not solely rely on stunt experts for these sequences? While lead roles and high-risk stunts certainly required the professional touch of highly trained stunt performers, there were numerous moments in the film where groups of Dauntless initiates were shown climbing buildings, chasing each other, or jumping onto moving trains.
In these scenes, having extras capable of basic parkour or movement techniques meant more realism and less reliance on CGI or camera trickery. Moreover, this allowed directors to shoot wider and longer takes, revealing genuinely dynamic motion scenes that grounded the action in physical realism rather than special effects.
Additionally, it allowed for more effective crowd choreography. Instead of awkward or stiff movement in group action sequences, parkour-trained extras gave the impression of a faction that lived and breathed movement with purpose and energy.
Interviews and Confirmations
Several sources can substantiate the inclusion of parkour training in the film’s production phase. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the film’s stunt coordinator Garrett Warren emphasized that realism in physical movement was crucial for establishing the tone and character of the Dauntless faction.
He mentioned that while Shailene Woodley handled a surprising amount of her own stunts, extras were also required to meet certain physical standards. “You can’t fake kinetic energy,” he said, adding that group momentum and synchronized movement were essential to the faction’s visual power.
Furthermore, some extras took to social media following filming, posting snippets about their training. Reddit threads and Divergent fansites contain anecdotal confirmations that certain training sessions took place in repurposed gymnasiums with obstacle courses modeled after parkour routines.
Other Films That Followed Suit
Following Divergent, other dystopian and action films — such as the Maze Runner series and Allegiant — also began incorporating parkour into background performances. This trend implies a growing cinematic standard that supporting actors and extras should display a degree of physical competence in action-heavy environments.
Final Thoughts
The use of parkour training for extras in Divergent wasn’t just a stylistic choice; it was a strategic decision to bolster the film’s authenticity and immersive quality. Through physical preparedness and carefully coordinated movement, even those not in speaking roles could help build a believable and kinetic world that resonated with audiences.
From a production standpoint, it was a smart move. Not only did it minimize CGI reliance, but it also gave the movie a signature visual style, with grounded and dynamic movement sequences that appealed to modern viewers raised on video games, action sports, and social media content featuring real athleticism.
So, were Divergent extras trained in parkour? Absolutely — not all of them, and not to an elite level, but to the degree necessary to move like actual Dauntless members. It’s a testament to the level of detail and realism the filmmakers pursued, even in the background of the frame.