With director Shawn Levy’s The Internship opening June 7th, I recently landed an exclusive video interview with Dylan O’Brien.  If you’re not familiar with The Internship, the film reteams Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn as two out-of-work salesmen who attempt to reinvent themselves by competing against young up-and-comers for an internship at Google.  The film also stars Max Minghella, Rose Byrne, and Jessica Szohr.  For more on The Internship, here’s my set visit and on set interviews with Levy, Wilson and Vaughn.

During the interview, he talked about making the film, what it was like to have the freedom to say and do anything, who broke the most while filming, and more.  In addition, O’Brien talked about why he wanted to be part of The Maze Runner (getting ready to film in Louisiana) and the chances he’ll go to Comic-Con this year.  Hit the jump to watch.

Director Wes Ball’s adaptation of James Dashner’s novel The Maze Runner isn’t due out until February 14th of next year, but we have the first look at some concept art from the film today.  Created by Ball, who made his career in visual effects, this image was used to inspire him in his vision for the film.  The story centers on a group of teens who appear in an area known as The Glade but have no memory when they wake up.  The only way out appears to be through a shifting maze of massive walls that harbor dangerous creatures known as Grievers.  Only Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) holds the secret to their escape.  Hit the jump to check out the movie’s concept art along with a visually-similar animated short film from Ball.

From a football drama to an indie comedy and a futuristic thriller, here is your casting news of the day:

• Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream) and Josh Pence (The Social Network) have joined Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner in the sports drama Draft Day.
• Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) is set to star in the indie comedy Barely Lethal.
• Dylan O’Brien (The First Time) makes his break from Teen Wolf to take the leading role in the dyspotian thriller The Maze Runner.

Hit the jump for more details on each casting.

Though the film has been rumored for quite some time, it appears as though Night at the Museum 3 is officially a go.  The film has been scheduled for release on December 25, 2014, and Shawn Levy will be returning to the director’s chair while Ben Stiller reprises his lead role.  Levy most recently helmed the Vince Vaughn/Owen Wilson comedy The Intership and is also attached to direct Stiller and Jonah Hill in the comedy Aloha, but with the Christmas 2014 release date imminent, it looks like Museum 3 is his next film.  Here’s what he had to say about the story when Levy spoke with Steve last year:

“It’s really funny, it’s very poignant, and it’s not just ‘Oh what museum are they going to this time?’ it’s a much meatier story than that.”

No other plot details are known at this time, but I assume we’ll hear more soon.  Hit the jump for release date news concerning the adaptation of The Maze Runner.

20th Century Fox has tapped newcomer Wes Ball to direct an adaptation of James Dashner’s dystopian novel (aren’t they all?) The Maze Runner.  Twilight helmer Catherine Hardwicke was previously attached to helm the pic, but Deadline now reports that Ball is onboard.  The young adult book centers on a group of teenagers who wake up to find themselves trapped in an ever-changing maze.  Screenwriter Noah Oppenheim was tapped to pen the adaptation last January, but it’s unknown if Ball’s take will necessitate a rewrite.

Fox is apparently a big fan of Ball.  His animated short Ruin made waves earlier this year, and the studio hired him to develop a live-action feature film iteration of the story for him to direct.  He’s working on that script with T.S. Nowlin under the supervision of producers McG and Lucasfilm’s Steve Tzirlin.  Ball runs the animation/effects company Oddball Animation, but The Maze Runner will be live-action.  Hit the jump to watch his impressive short and to read the full synopsis for The Maze Runner.

Last month, we reported that Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke had signed on to direct an adaptation of James Dashner’s best-selling young-adult novel The Maze Runner.  The books center on a group of teenagers who wake up to find themselves trapped in an ever-changing maze.  24 Frames is now reporting that screenwriter Noah Oppenheim has been brought on to write the script.  Oppenheimer is an interesting choice as his previous scripts are for an English-language remake of the Swedish crime thriller Snabba Cash and a biopic about Jackie Kennedy set during the aftermath of her husband’s assassination.

The Maze Runner is the latest young-adult franchise that studios are hoping will be the next Harry Potter or Twilight.  Hit the jump for a synopsis for the novel.  Other hopeful young-adult-novel-based franchises currently in various stages of development include The Hunger Games, Hovercar 3D, and I Am Number Four.  I’m sure they will all be successful and in no way be the next Cirque du Freak or The Dark Is Rising or The Golden Compass or Lemony Snicket or Eragon or Percy Jackson or City of Ember or…

Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) has made a name for herself when it comes to directing movies about teenagers, and she may be looking to do yet another film with teenage protagonists.  The Wrap reports that Hardwicke is in negotiations with 20th Century Fox to direct Maze Runners.

Based on the James Dashner’s novel The Maze Runner,  the story centers around Thomas, a young boy who wakes up with no memory (except for his name) to find himself surrounded by other boys his age. They live at the center of an ever-changing maze and must solve its riddles if they have any chance to escape. Hit the jump for more plot description and similar projects.