Will Dylan O'Brien Return to Maze Runner 4?
With a new Maze Runner film in development, let's talk about the possibility of Dylan O'Brien's return.
Last year it was announced that a new Maze Runner movie is in development. While the official word was “Reboot”, the reports clarified that this new movie will be set in the same universe, some sort of a continuation. The best example that comes to my mind is the latest Planet of the Apes movie, which was set around 300 years after the final movie in the previous trilogy, and followed new characters. It felt fresh and familiar at the same time, and that’s one of the reasons why it was such a great movie.
Recently Dylan O'Brien was asked about it, and he said he didn’t even know that this new chapter is in development. But to me it sounds like if they call him, he might consider coming back. If you recall, he played Thomas, the lead character, in the original trilogy. As of now, we know nothing about this movie. For all we know, it could also be a prequel. But if it’s a sequel, I think the studio should really consider bringing Dylan O'Brien back, even if it’s a small role this time around.
For most people, The Maze Runner trilogy is “The Dylan O'Brien show”. Yes, fans have come to love Thomas Brodie-Sangster’s Newt and Kaya Scodelario’s Teresa, but at the end of the day, Dylan was the main draw. Don’t forget, he was also the main draw in the super-popular MTV show “Teen Wolf”, and the first Maze Runner movie was released when this show was at its peak. The Maze Runner was his franchise, and I think it will be pretty hard to continue without him. Not impossible, but tough.
It all depends on what Disney / 20TH Century Studios plans for this franchise. If it’s a direct sequel, even if it is set between 5-10 years after the last movie, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, which was released in 2018, then Dylan O'Brien must return, at some capacity at least. People will want to see him. But if they are going to adapt the sequel trilogy, that’s a whole different story (literally). That trilogy is set around 73 years after the last book / movie, and follows the descendants of the characters from the original trilogy. But even in that case, Dylan O'Brien can still show up – in archive videos, flashbacks, etc.
I think it also depends on the crew behind the camera. While Wes Ball, who directed the entire original trilogy, won’t return this time around (this guy is so busy right now – Zelda movie and maybe even the next Planet of the Apes), he still one of the producers, so that’s a positive sign that we’ll get the “feeling” of the original trilogy. As for a director, I have a feeling it will be someone like Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane, Prey), Brian Buffled (No One Will Save You, Spontaneous), Michael Matthews (Love and Monsters, Nautilus), Fede Álvarez (Alien: Romulus, Don’t Breathe), or some new VFX expert that Wes Ball will choose.