The latest news is that Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who will soon be seen in Season Three of HBO’s Game of Thrones, has been cast as Newt, the blond-haired co-leader of the group of boys that live in the maze that the main protagonist, Thomas, somewhat involuntarily joins.
With the movie adaptation of James Dashner’s “The Maze Runner” finally filling out its cast, every eligible young man in Hollywood is going to be eyeing the roles of the story’s various amnesiac teenage boys who live in a giant maze. And after earlier reports that Will Poulter was circling the film’s lead, we’ve got another major character cast: Deadline has the news that Thomas Brodie-Sangster, best known as the adorable youngster from “Love Actually,” is on board the project in the role of Newt.
Also of interest: Hollywood monster-man Ken Barthelmy has teased fans with the news that he’s been at work on concept designs for the film, which means that the story’s horrible stinging beasts, known as “grievers,” should be every bit as terrifying as you might’ve hoped for. And between “Maze Runner,” the “Divergent” movie and the still-to-come screen adaptations of “Catching Fire” and “Mockingjay,” we’re getting pretty psyched for the next couple years of dark, dystopian flicks in which the whole world has gone to hell.
via MTV Hollywood Crush.
However, author James Dashner has been quick to respond to everyone in regards to this news.
Nothing is official until @wesball confirms, but rumored to be Newt: bit.ly/Z4cOEq. From Game of Thrones!!! #nerdglee
— jamesdashner (@jamesdashner) March 14, 2013
Later, he jokes about the confusing situation that could very well erupt during filming:
This could be very confusing on set, with Newt being named Thomas and all. “Louder, Thomas! No, Newt Thomas, not Thomas Thomas! #%$& cut!”
— jamesdashner (@jamesdashner) March 14, 2013
As far as word from Wes Ball, he hasn’t confirmed Brodie-Sangster yet, but he did state that Method Studios, a VFX studio that’s worked on such films as The Avengers, Dark Shadows, Argo, Captain America: The First Avenger, X-Men: First Class, and is also currently involved with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Iron Man 3, and Oz: The Great and Powerful, will be working on the visual effects for The Maze Runner movie!
I want to welcome @method_studios to The Maze Runner team. Eric Brevig and Sue Rowe will be our VFX supes. Awesome.
— Wes Ball (@wesball) March 10, 2013
It looks like the pre-production is coming along very nicely. Now if we can get confirmation on these cast members!