The Maze Runner Reboot Is in the Works

An unexpected reboot of the dystopian film The Maze Runner is confirmed to be in the works, with a brand new storyline and cast.

A decade after the original film was released in 2014, fans anticipate the return for the franchise.

A reboot of ‘THE MAZE RUNNER’ is in the works. pic.twitter.com/CUTIoAkq2B

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) May 3, 2024

The franchise is a trilogy, and the first gained worldwide recognition immediately after its release. The second film, The Scorch Trials, was released the next year in 2015, and the third installment, The Death Cure, in 2018. All three films were adapted from James Dashner’s 2009 adult book series of the same name. The series of novels included the three films of the same name and two prequels, The Kill Order and The Fever Code.

The original storyline follows a dystopian world where teenage boys wake up in an elevator, lifting them into a walled environment surrounded by a giant, inescapable maze. Their memories are wiped, and they have no idea how or why they are there. The teens are in an experiment away from the outside post-apocalyptic world, with the government watching their every move, wanting to see who the strongest in the group are and who will fight against all odds to survive.

The Maze Runner (2014) dir. Wes Ball pic.twitter.com/YefZpG5igt

— Cinematic (@Cinemaaa_) March 14, 2024

Every night, the doors of the maze shut, and inside, there are traps designed to make the boys want to stay out. With the newest arrival of the main character, Thomas, portrayed by Dylan O’Brien, the solution to the maze is finally there. He was promoted to runner by the group, one of the teens who would run through the maze to scope it out, and he figured out a plan to escape.

O’Brien shared the screen with his on-screen romantic interest, Kaya Scodelario (Teresa), and fellow Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Newt), Will Poulter (Gally), and Ki Hong Lee (Minho), among others. The casting is a favorite of many film lovers who still discuss it today.

The reboot will reportedly not be tied to the original storyline and will feature a new cast. We will not see the original actors return to our screens, which many fans are upset about as they believe the original cast cannot be replaced.

Dylan O’Brien as Thomas in The Maze Runner trilogy will always be one of the greatest castings ever and can never be matched #TheMazeRunner #DylanOBrien pic.twitter.com/TxQv4pTZVo

— DBD ERA (@giselleb1234) May 3, 2024

Besides The Maze Runner, many other reboots have recently been released or announced, and studios have been criticized for not creating original ideas anymore.

Many are also stating on social media that the third film left off on a perfect note and should not have a reboot. Although it is considered a reboot, it is less of a fourth film or a redo of the original and more of an entirely new storyline based in the same universe. In addition, the series also has two prequel books that were never made into films, so fans are stating on social media that they should have invited the original cast back to create a fourth and fifth film.

new hunger games movie, they’re rebooting twilight, harry potter and now the maze runner all that’s missing is divergent and it’s welcome back 2014 https://t.co/XTTz9j7jaS

— becca (@cIxncy) May 3, 2024

Wes Ball, the director of all three original films, will return to the reboot, this time as a producer. He will reunite with previous producers on the films, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Lee Stollman of Gotham Group and Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen of Temple Hill.

20th Century Studios will develop the new installment, and Jack Paglen, who wrote the 2014 film Transcendence starring Johnny Depp, is negotiating to write the script.

Overall, fans are very excited to see what the new story holds and cannot wait to have The Maze Runner back on screen again, even if it feels different.

Fans can watch The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, which is available to stream on Max.