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.

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In additional release date news, director Wes Ball’s adaptation of the James Dashner novel The Maze Runner has been set for a Valentine’s Day 2014 release.  The story centers on a group of teenagers who wake up to find themselves trapped in an ever-changing maze, and Ball landed the directing gig off the strength of his animated short RuinThe Maze Runner is currently slated to open against the Screen Gems remake of About Last Night.  Read the synopsis of Dashner’s novel below.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind. [Amazon]