Having suffered a major delay in filming after an on-set accident involving leading man Dylan O’Brien, the fate of the third in “The Maze Runner” trilogy was left in limbo. However, the star regained health and the cast and crew returned to set to finish off the remainder of the film.
The first in the franchise, “The Maze Runner,” was met with a somewhat muted appraisal, coming too soon off the heels of every other YA adaptation to not be met with some fatigue. However, a general consensus seemed to be that it was better than expected. Its sequel, “The Scorch Trials” met more ire from critics, though it’s worth noting how much the director Wes Ball and his production team did with what is, admittedly, slight source material. With “The Death Cure” the filmmakers now have a shot to trim the fat and create something as visually impressive and compact as the first.
Having taken minor divergences from the book, it will be interesting to see what other changes are made to the ending of the trilogy and if those changes will be appreciated by fans and critics alike. We also get to be pleased with the knowledge that, at the very least, this isn’t a “trilogy” where they split the last book in half to make two movies.
In the conclusion to the Maze Runner trilogy, Thomas and the surviving Gladers prepare to face off against WCKD one last time as they fight to find a cure for the deadly disease known as The Flare that has wiped out most of the world. Friendships and loyalties will be tested and the fight against WCKD will also determine who will survive in the end.
Also starring Rosa Salazar, Kaya Scodelario, Ki Hong Lee and Thomas Brodie-Sangster, the film is written by T.S. Nowlin and will be released through 20th Century Fox on February 9, 2018.
