Delays are a common occurrence in the film industry; it's something to be expected whenever a big-budget blockbuster enters production. However, nobody could have expected the sort of delay experienced by The Maze Runner: The Death Cure after star Dylan O'Brien suffered a serious on-set injury earlier this year. His miraculous survival came as an immense relief - but what about the movie? The third installment in The Maze Runner franchise has been on the back burner for the last few months, but now it seems that the film will resume production this winter.
Deadline reports that The Maze Runner: The Death Cure will once again begin production in February 2017. The film had initially expected to resume filming far earlier on May 9, but the cast and crew apparently decided to hold off in order to give Dylan O'Brien more time to recover from the on-set injuries that he sustained while filming an action scene. As a result of this, Warner Bros. has also bumped The Death Cure's release date from February 2017 to January 2018. Sorry, Maze Runner fans, it's going to be a while before we learn exactly how Thomas (O'Brien) plans to rescue his friends from WCKD.
Pretty much everyone involved in The Maze Runner: The Death Cure has been walking on egg shells since Dylan O'Brien's severe injuries in March. The young up-and-comer reportedly fell from a set resembling the back of a train, and was subsequently struck by a car during one unlucky take. His injuries were severe enough to delay the production of The Death Cure for months, and although we've since learned that he would make a full recovery, it was touch and go for a while. Beyond that, he more or less doesn't seem permanently affected by the ordeal.
Ultimately we're just glad that The Maze Runner: The Death Cure still happening. Adaptations of Young Adult properties have become incredibly common these days, and very few exhibit the sort of quality established by The Hunger Games franchise. The Maze Runner series is one of the few YA properties to offer a genuinely compelling narrative, as well as some badass action sequences, and much of that success stems from Dylan O'Brien's own commitment to the story and stunt work. Go back and watch the first two movies; the guy throws himself wholeheartedly into every stunt, and the movies are noticeably better for it.
Although it will take The Maze Runner: The Death Cure far longer than expected to hit theaters, it hasn't shaken our enthusiasm for the project as fans. The series has established a consistent track record for quality over the course of its last two films, and we would rather Warner Bros. wait for the right moment than rush anyone (especially Dylan O'Brien) back to set. The Maze Runner: The Death Cure will once again commence production in February, and the film will hit theaters on January 12, 2018. Stay tuned for more details!
