There’s no official fourth Maze Runner film on the horizon, but a soft reboot—or “continuation”—is reportedly in development at Disney’s 20th Century Studios. It won’t continue Thomas’s story directly, but it promises to revisit the dystopian world with fresh faces and new twists.
What’s Confirmed (and What’s Not)
A “Continuation,” Not a Sequel
A new film is in the works, not as a sequel or remake, but a “continuation” set in the same universe. It aims to capture that Glader vibe with new characters and a fresh storyline. Original producers are involved, and director Wes Ball returns as a producer.
Scriptwriter Attached
Jack Paglen, known for Transcendence and working on Alien: Covenant, is in talks to write the script. That suggests a polished, possibly ambitious narrative.
No Returning Cast
Dylan O’Brien and the original cast are not expected to return. This isn’t their story anymore—just the world they left behind.
Why a Fourth Movie Is Unlikely
Trilogy Was Meant To Be Final
Director Wes Ball and screenwriter T.S. Nowlin emphasized that the trilogy had a clean beginning, middle, and end. Ball once said, “For me, if I have any say in it, there’s three movies basically.” Nowlin echoed that ending it properly felt right.
Cast & Creators Moved On
Dylan O’Brien described the third film as a conclusion—something he “finished.” Kaya Scodelario called it a “goodbye.” Both preferred to leave the story there.
No Direct Book Continuation
The original book trilogy ended with The Death Cure. No fourth novel continues Thomas’s story. Instead, the universe expanded backward with prequels (The Kill Order, The Fever Code) and much later with The Maze Cutter.
What Fans Are Saying
Discussions online reflect both hope and skepticism:
- A Redditor noted The Maze Cutter is set 70–80 years later and includes none of the original cast, making a direct sequel unlikely to resonate with fans.
- Another commented that adapting prequels would require entirely new actors, so it wouldn’t feel like a Maze Runner 4.
- Many fans pointed out that after two years of silence, speculation has cooled—and the timeline for a reboot could stretch into the late 2020s.
Why a Reboot Makes Sense
Familiar World, New Stories
Reboots or continuations let franchises grow without being tied to original character arcs. Think Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes reinventing its narrative while tying into the Apes universe.
Studio Dynamics
Disney flipping the franchise toward streaming or a hybrid release aligns with broader content strategies. Fans won’t get Thomas’s next move—but they may revisit the maze from a new angle.
What’s Next?
Currently, development is in early phases. No production schedule, release windows, or casting info has surfaced. Estimates speculating a 2025–2027 release range are just that—speculation without studio confirmation.
Conclusion
There’s no Maze Runner 4 picking up Thomas’s saga—at least not in theaters. The original trilogy closed cleanly, with creators and actors moving on. But a new Maze Runner story is tentatively underway as a soft reboot or continuation, set in the same world but with new characters and plot. It’s a world we recognize—but a story we haven’t seen before.
FAQs
Will Dylan O’Brien return as Thomas?
No. The upcoming continuation is designed to stand apart, so Thomas and the original cast aren’t expected to return.
Is this new film based on The Maze Cutter book?
Unlikely. The reboot isn’t confirmed to adapt any Dashner book yet; it’s more of an original story within the same universe.
Could the prequels (The Kill Order, The Fever Code) be adapted next?
Possibly, but they haven’t been confirmed. Those stories would require new casts and serve as stand-alone narratives within the same world.
When might the new film release?
No dates are official. Industry chatter suggests development could lead to a release sometime between 2025–2027—but timelines remain uncertain.
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