If you’ve been rewatching the Maze Runner trilogy and found yourself squinting at the screen wondering exactly where you know that guy from, you aren't alone. Aris Jones is one of those characters who feels like he’s hiding a secret even when he’s just standing there. The actor who plays Aris in Maze Runner is Jacob Lofland, a guy who basically walked off a boat in Arkansas and straight onto a movie set with Matthew McConaughey.
Jacob Lofland joined the franchise in the second installment, The Scorch Trials, and stuck around for the finale, The Death Cure. He plays the "lone survivor" from Group B—basically the boy version of Teresa. In the books, he’s a bit of a telepathic mystery, but in the movies, Lofland gives him this quiet, jittery energy that makes you constantly question if he’s a hero or a WCKD plant.
Who is Jacob Lofland?
Jacob isn't your typical Hollywood kid. He was born in July 1996 in Briggsville, Arkansas, a town so small it reportedly has a population of about 400 people. He didn't go to acting school. He didn't have an agent. He was just a kid who liked riding dirt bikes and helping his dad.
His big break happened because his mom saw an open casting call in the newspaper for a movie called Mud. Jacob fit the description of the character "Neckbone" perfectly: a southern kid who could drive a boat and wasn't afraid to get dirty. He beat out hundreds of trained actors for the role. Honestly, starting your career opposite Matthew McConaughey and Tye Sheridan is a hell of a way to skip the line.
After Mud, he did some TV work on Justified and Texas Rising, which eventually led him to the role of Aris.
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Why Aris is the Weirdest Character in the Glade
When we first meet Aris in The Scorch Trials, he’s the "rat in the vents." He’s the one who clues Thomas in on the fact that the "safe haven" they’ve found is actually just another WCKD experiment.
Lofland has mentioned in interviews that he played Aris as a nervous kid who knows something is wrong but can't quite put his finger on it. He has to depend on the other Gladers because he’s spent so much time alone. In the books, Aris and Teresa share a telepathic bond that was mostly cut from the movies, which made Lofland’s job harder. He had to convey that deep connection through looks and vibe alone.
Where You’ve Seen Him Lately (The Landman Connection)
If you’re watching TV in 2026, you’ve probably seen Jacob Lofland's face a lot more recently. He’s currently starring in the Paramount+ hit series Landman, created by Taylor Sheridan.
In Landman, he plays Cooper Norris, the son of Billy Bob Thornton’s character. It’s a total 180 from Aris. Instead of a scared kid in a dystopian maze, he’s a "greenhorn" working on oil rigs in West Texas. He’s gritty, he’s covered in oil, and he’s dealing with some pretty heavy family drama.
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A few other places you might recognize him:
- Joker: Folie à Deux (2024): He had a role in the DC sequel alongside Joaquin Phoenix.
- 12 Mighty Orphans: He played one of the lead orphans in this 1930s football drama.
- A House on the Bayou: A creepy thriller where he plays a very unsettling local.
Fun Facts About the Actor
Jacob is actually a dad now! He recently shared that he has a daughter named Annie. He’s also been with the same partner for nearly a decade, which is like a century in Hollywood years.
He still lives in Arkansas when he’s not filming. He hasn't let the "Maze Runner" fame turn him into a typical celebrity. He’s still into dirt bikes—specifically, he’s mentioned upgrading to bigger Honda bikes and doing wheelies in his spare time.
The Evolution of Aris Jones
Aris is one of the few characters who survives the entire ordeal. In The Death Cure, he’s part of the Right Arm resistance, helping the others break into the Last City. While he isn't the main star like Dylan O'Brien, Aris is the glue that connects the different groups of experiments.
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Lofland brought a certain "realness" to the role. Because he grew up in rural Arkansas, he has this grounded, unpolished quality that made Aris feel more human and less like a "chosen one" trope.
If you want to keep up with what Jacob is doing now, his best work is definitely happening in the Taylor Sheridan universe. Landman just wrapped up its second season, and his performance is being hailed as one of the best parts of the show.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to see more of Jacob Lofland's range beyond the Maze Runner universe, go back and watch Mud. It’s his debut, and you can see the raw talent that got him cast as Aris in the first place. After that, check out Landman on Paramount+ to see how much he’s grown as an actor since his time in the Scorch.