New Maze Runner Movie Rumored
It is reported to be an original story set in the same universe
News from the popular "Maze Runner" franchise: Hollywood insider Daniel Richtman has reported on a new project from the world of the sci-fi dystopian saga. It is said to be neither a direct sequel nor a prequel. Instead, the plan is for an original story set within the same universe. As a result, we can expect a new cast of main characters.
The Hollywood Reporter had already mentioned a new "Maze Runner" movie back in 2024. At the time, there was talk of a reboot by "Transcendence" screenwriter Jack Paglen. However, it remains unclear whether both sources are referring to the same project.
The first three "Maze Runner" movies are based on the novels by James Dashner. Released between 2014 and 2018, the film trilogy quickly became one of the most popular young adult franchises of the past decade. The first three films are currently experiencing a new lease on life in streaming. The trilogy was recently released on Netflix – and was promptly represented in the Netflix film charts with all three parts. As you can see, the appetite for "Maze Runner" is still strong.
The Maze Runner films
With the film adaptation of the "Maze Runner" novels, a new dystopian franchise hit the big screen in 2014 – dark, fast-paced and clearly tailored to a young audience. The films became part of a larger trend in which Hollywood did everything it could to land the next mega-hit in the style of "Harry Potter", "Twilight" or "The Hunger Games". It was based on a mysterious scenario, young heroes, an oppressive future society – and plenty of action.
What Maze Runner is about
The first film "The Maze Runner" begins in complete disorientation – quite literally. Young Thomas, played by Dylan O'Brien, wakes up in an elevator with no memory of his former life. He finds himself in the midst of a group of teenagers who live together in a clearing surrounded by high walls. These walls conceal a huge, constantly changing labyrinth from which there seems to be no escape. While the group has established its own order and hierarchy, Thomas begins to question the existing system – and eventually becomes the leader in a risky attempt to unravel the mystery of the labyrinth.
The success of the film quickly led to the sequel "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" , which shifted the action to a post-apocalyptic scenario. The final film, "Maze Runner: The Death Cure", rounded off the trilogy.
Maze Runner and the young adult boom
"Maze Runner" was by no means the only project to hit the big screen during this phase. The early 2010s were characterized by a veritable race between studios: Everyone wanted to land the next big young-adult franchise. The basis for "Maze Runner" was primarily the unprecedented success of "The Hunger Games" (2012-2015) with Jennifer Lawrence. It quickly became clear that young protagonists in dystopian worlds could not only fill the box office, but also have a cultural impact on an entire generation.
"Maze Runner" joined this wave and was specifically positioned as "the next Tribute to Panem" – young, rebellious, dark. Studios such as 20th Century Fox hoped to establish a similarly strong brand with the book by James Dashner. Although "Maze Runner" never achieved the cultural significance of "Panem" or "Harry Potter", the franchise held its own against numerous other representatives of the genre. Examples of this include "Divergent" and "The 5th Wave".
The "Maze Runner" films are exemplary of the young adult hype of the 2010s: they are a product of an era in which studios reached deep into the youth book shelves in search of the next big franchise. At the same time, "Maze Runner" remains one of the most successful and popular YA franchises of its time. The fact that there could now be an expansion of the universe is a sign of how strong the fascination for this type of story still is.
