Ashley Judd has joined the star-studded film adaptation of Veronica Roth's futuristic novel Divergent after signing on to play Shailene Woodley's movie mother.

The Double Jeopardy actress will appear in the post-apocalyptic sci-fi release alongside Aaron Eckhart, Ray Stevenson, Zoe Kravitz, Maggie Q, Jai Courtney and Kate Winslet, who has been cast as villain Jeanine Matthews.

Ghost baddie Tony Goldwyn has also been added to the project, the first in a planned trilogy based on Roth's popular books.

The Divergent movie is set to be released next year (14).