Rabid fans of ‘The Maze Runner’ book series have been frothing at the mouth waiting for updates on the first movie, set to be released on Valentine’s Day 2014, and word is slowly starting to trickle out.

It’s just been announced that one of the film’s male leads will be played by Will Poulter, a face you might recognize as Lee Carter from ‘Son of Rambow,’ or Eustace Scrubb from ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.’ It’s been a busy couple of years for this up-and-coming talent, and before delving into the serious action/thriller that is ‘The Maze Runner’ series, Poulter will first be appearing this August in ‘We’re the Millers’ alongside Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis. No stranger to comedy, however, Poulter’s been making a humorous name for himself since 2008 in the British sketch show ‘School of Comedy.’

In James Dashner’s novel of the same name, Thomas wakes up in a dark elevator, retaining no memory except his own name, surrounded by around 60 other teen boys who arrived the same way. With little hope for escape from their strange environment, the boys have built a working society to sustain life while the fastest and strongest try to solve the dangerous maze that surrounds the isolated landscape.

Photo credit: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Almost as mysterious as the circumstances of the plot is who Poulter will be playing. Deadline.com wisely skirts the issue by simply naming him “one of the leads,” which could be one of about three supporting characters, or the title role of Thomas as Bleeding Cool seems to believe. I’m no casting agent, but upon hearing Will Poulter’s hat was in the ring, I had him pegged for skeptical antagonist Gally, or even athletic Minho or leader Alby, if the movie diverts from the characters’ background races from the book. But I could just as easily see this strong actor tackle the lead of Thomas, and it will be exciting to watch this film’s barren and lonely IMDB page fill up with actors for our fictional heroes over the coming months.

As an additional nugget of info, author James Dashner announced last week via Twitter that director Wes Ball has announced Enrique Chediak as his director of photography. That name itself might not ring a bell, but if you appreciated the breathtaking visuals from ‘127 Hours’ and frenetic cinematic suspense of ‘28 Weeks Later,’ you have Chediak to thank.

What do you think? Is Poulter the right choice for Thomas? Who would you cast as his supporting Gladers?

Sound off in the comments below, and until the movie’s release…stay WICKED.