Is The Death Cure really it for the Dylan O’Brien-led box office smash hitter, the Maze Runner series, or should we expect another outing from the Gladers? The movie is the third in the sci-fi dystopian action-adventure books turned film series, preceded by The Maze Runner (2014) and The Scorch Trials (2015).
Released on the 26th day of January 2018, the film was a huge success at the box office, grossing a massive $288 million globally on a budget of $62 million. It effortlessly topped the box office in its opening weekend, taking the position from Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle after the latter spent three consecutive weekends in the spotlight. The feat wasn’t surprising anyway, being that its predecessors opened at number-one at the box office during their opening weekend as well.
Even though the third film is supposed to be the final installment in the YA series, going by its positive reception and performance at the box office, critics and fans alike have been led to speculate that the franchise could go on. The question on their minds and lips has been whether or not a sequel will be released. If their speculation is anything to go by, then, when is the next Maze Runner coming out? Follow us as we try to provide the answers.
The Maze Runner’s Franchise
The Maze Runner franchise is a YA film trilogy based on the popular book series by the American author, James Dashner that leads one into the world of dystopia. It felt like all of Hollywood in a cocktail; wastelands, zombies, firefights, and what have you. The film was distributed by the popular American film studio, 20th Century Fox. It earned $949 million from a $157 million total production budget, making it the fourth highest-grossing film series based on young-adult (YA) books, after the film series of Harry Potter, The Twilight Saga, and The Hunger Games respectively.
Produced by Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and directed by Wes Ball, the first Maze Runner entry was about Thomas (O’ Brien) carving out his identity as a leader and in the second outing was him learning how to lead, then in the third, he utilized his chances to finally make a stand and lead. Also starring in the films are Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, Game of Thrones‘ Aidan Gillen, Dexter Darden, and Patricia Clarkson.
The science-fiction dystopian action-adventure film franchise opened with the eponymous film on September 19, 2014. It was relentlessly ambitious, both in story and visuals, and served every goal expected of a Hollywood Y.A. powerhouse. Moreover, it did not only resonate well with critics and moviegoers but was also a raving success at the box office. It grossed over $348 million worldwide against a $34 million production budget.
The second installment, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials didn’t disappoint in any way. Just like its predecessor, it was also all shades of amazing and successful, both critically and commercially. It was released on September 18, 2015, and brought in over $312 million worldwide at the box office on a $61 million budget.
The film series wrapped up with the release of the third film, Maze Runner: The Death Cure on January 26, 2018, bringing the Y.A. powerhouse to an end. Although the series screenwriter, T.S. Nowlin described the finale as a definitive end, we can’t help but wonder if the original trilogy is really it for the series.
When Is The Next Maze Runner Coming Out or Is The Death Cure the Last?
The Death Cure follows Thomas as he leads his group of escaped Gladers on their final and most dangerous mission yet, to save their friends from the legendary Last City, the WCKD-controlled labyrinth. Coming to the question about a sequel, there are no known plans to continue the franchise with a fourth movie. Moreover, there are various pointers indicating that the third release could be the last.
In the film trailers, it was teased as “one last ride,” while the movie’s official website also states that The Death Cure is the epic finale to the Maze Runner saga. Combined with the fact that the Death Cure storyline is based on the final book in the Dashner YA series, the above statement doesn’t really leave any room suggesting the series continuity.
Even though the third film left many loose ends and several rooms for the fans to debate what happens next, the forces behind the franchise seem keen on honoring the shape of the trilogy and don’t want to do a fourth movie. Moreso, the screenwriter promises there’s no Maze Runner 4. According to him, “it’s nice to let the movies kind of exhale.”
The first two films were released one year apart; 2014 and 2015 respectively, while the third came in 2018, leaving room to speculate about a fourth movie in the future. While we await the future, it is best to assume The Death Cure is really it for the Maze Runner franchise. Unless, of course, someone ultimately decides to tackle the series’ prequels (The Kill Order and The Fever Code) and adapt them into films.
