Summary

• Disney confirms Maze Runner 4 is in development, expanding the successful YA franchise with potential new storylines.
• Possible storylines for Maze Runner 4 include prequels or sequels, offering different directions and connections to the original trilogy.
• Uncertainty surrounds the return of original cast members in Maze Runner 4 due to timeline constraints and aging characters.

The Maze Runner movie franchise is expected to expand with the confirmation of Maze Runner 4, and there are updates on where the movie's development stands. 20th Century Studios entered the young adult book adaptation surge of the 2010s by turning James Dashner's The Maze Runner book series into a major action franchise. The original trilogy starred Dylan O'Brien as Thomas and Kaya Scodelario as Teresa as they fight back against WCKD and create a cure for the Flare Virus. Maze Runner: The Death Cure's ending brought the trilogy to a close without assurances the franchise would continue.

There has always been hope that Maze Runner 4 could happen at some point. The original three Maze Runner movies were successful at the box office, grossing nearly $1 billion worldwide. There are also additional novels by James Dashner that give 20th Century and Disney opportunities to expand the franchise in different directions. With the last installment coming in 2018, the fate of the franchise and the possibilities of Maze Runner 4 have lingered. The exact status of the film is known, although additional details on what characters and story it could focus on is unclear.

Disney Confirmed Maze Runner 4 Is Happening In 2019

The Studio Promised New Movies In The Franchise After The Death Cure

Disney was put in charge of the Maze Runner franchise following the studio's acquisition of 20th Century Studios in 2019. The sale came one year after Maze Runner: The Death Cure hit theaters and hit franchise lows. The movie ended the trilogy with the franchise's worst reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and it also finished with the lowest box office gross of any Maze Runner movie. Despite the underperformance of the final film, Disney still managed to see the worth in the IP. This led to the confirmation that Maze Runner 4 is in development.

The announcement that new Maze Runner movies were in development came in April 2019 as part of Disney's presentation at CinemaCon. Executives from 20th Century took the stage to tease that the franchise would continue as part of touting the continuation of other franchises previously run by Fox, like Kingsman, Avatar, Planet of the Apes, and Alien (via Erik Davis). So far, Disney has made good on the promise that these franchises would continue, as Kingsman 3, multiple Avatar sequels, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and Alien: Romulus have either been announced or come out.

This leaves Maze Runner 4 as the only movie from this original announcement that has yet to be made. There have not been any updates on the status of the film since the initial confirmation, though. No director or writer has become attached to the project on an official level. The years of inactivity do raise questions about whether the film is in active development, or if it has become a title that Disney and 20th Century have not managed to piece together. But, there has not been any announcement that Maze Runner 4 is not happening either.

Maze Runner 4's Story: Which Book Will It Adapt?

James Dashner's Books Provide Different Options

There are two different directions that Maze Runner 4 could take in regards to adapting one of James Dashner's books. He has written prequels to the original novels and sequel books as well, and both are potential options for the next Maze Runner movie's story. There are currently two prequels and two sequel/spinoff books that Disney has the option to look at when deciding what direction to take Maze Runner 4's story. One would take the franchise back to the early days of the Flare Virus, and the other would push the timeline well beyond Thomas' story and The Death Cure's ending.

The prequel option for Maze Runner 4 would mean adapting The Kill Order. It was released in 2012 and takes place 13 years before the events of The Maze Runner. The book tells the story of the Flare Virus' outbreak on Earth. Although it begins with a prologue that includes Thomas and Teresa, the main characters are Mark and Trina, teenage friends who survived the original flare and live with other survivors in the Appalachians. This would make Maze Runner 4's story revolve around the origin of the Flare Virus and provide major connections to the original trilogy characters.

The Kill Order had a sequel book, The Fever Code, that also acts as a prequel to the original books and movies.

The sequel option for Maze Runner would come with adapting The Maze Cutter. The sequel/spinoff book was released in 2022 and takes place 73 years after The Death Cure. It revolves around descendants of the Gladers as a ship arrives on their island and threatens their lives. This story revolves around Sadina, Isaac, and Jackie, with Sadina being related to Newt. Maze Runner 4's story going down this route would serve as a soft relaunch of the property that leaves the door open to continue the franchise by adapting The Godhead Complex afterward.

Which Characters Can Return In Maze Runner 4's Cast

Thomas O'Brien & Other Cast Members Might Not Be Involved

Adapting either The Kill Order or The Maze Cutter does reduce the options for original The Maze Runner cast members to return in the next installment. The Kill Order's book does include roles for Thomas and Teresa, but bringing Dylan O'Brien or Kaya Scodelario back would be challenging. Their roles are limited to events set right before The Maze Runner and when they were both only five years old. Of course, the Maze Runner movie could change the books further by adding in characters audiences would recognize, such as WCKD's Ava Paige.

The Maze Cutter's timeline would prevent practically every original cast member from returning too. Since the story takes place 73 years later, the young adult characters will now be in their 80s or 90s. Thomas, Brenda, Minho, and others have no roles to play in the sequel book. Bringing back any of the original stars would be an example of changing the source material, and it would only be possible through flashback scenes. Bridging the gap between The Death Cure and The Maze Cutter, possibly with Thomas narrating it, could help bring back a few characters.

When Will Maze Runner 4 Be Released?

Disney Has Never Given Maze Runner 4 A Release Date

Due to its current development status, Maze Runner 4's release date is unknown. Disney has never given the film a date on its schedule, even though the studio has releases mapped out through 2027. This might mean that the earliest Maze Runner 4 could be released is 2028. That would provide a few years for Disney to assemble a creative team and go through all stages of production before a release date would come. The timing of that release could be perfect, as it would be 10 years since Maze Runner: The Death Cure wrapped up the original trilogy.

Ultimately, it is difficult to predict when Maze Runner 4's release date could be. If development heated up quickly, Disney could push the film through production and into theaters in as few as two years. If the studio continues to let the IP falter, then it might be much longer than 2028 before another Maze Runner movie is released. Announcing a Maze Runner 4 release date would solve these issues and provide a major update whenever that news comes.