Wes Ball will be producing the reboot of The Maze Runner for 20th Century Studios.
Tl;dr
- 20th Century Studios is relaunching the The Maze Runner franchise.
- Original director Wes Ball returns as a producer.
- The film will not be a rehash or sequel to the original trilogy.
- The recent resurgence of the young adult genre could boost the reboot’s success.
The Rebirth of The Maze Runner
20th Century Studios is working on a reboot of The Maze Runner franchise, about a decade after the launch of the previous adaptation trilogy. The original director, Wes Ball, is involved in the project, this time as a producer.
A New Adaptation in the Works
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the studio has begun the initial stages of developing the reboot of The Maze Runner. Transcendence screenwriter Jack Paglen is reportedly in talks to write the film’s script. The film will not be a rehash or sequel to the original trilogy but rather a “kind of continuation” with elements that resonated with the first film’s audience.
A Favorable Context
The announcement of a Maze Runner reboot may come as a surprise, given that the original trilogy concluded in 2018. However, this decision comes at a time when the young adult genre is experiencing a true resurgence on the big and small screens. Studios are looking to recreate the success they had with franchises like Harry Potter and Twilight.
The Resurgence of the Young Adult Genre
There is a trend of reviving some young adult franchises, such as the revival of Hunger Games with the adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ prequel novel, The Ballad of Songbirds and SnakesPercy Jackson franchise into a TV series by Disney+. The success of the latter even earned the series a second season.
What Do We Think?
It is evident that the young adult genre is experiencing a surge in popularity, and the reboot of The Maze Runner could ride this wave. However, it is crucial for this new film to capture the essence of what made the first film so popular with the audience. If the film manages to do this while bringing something new and exciting, it could indeed be a success and contribute to the continuation of this resurgence of the young adult genre.