With Maze Runner: The Death Cure, the big-screen YA trilogy comes to an end. But with two prequel novels written by author of the original books, James Dashner, there is still material to mine that hasn’t yet been translated to screen. There are also places to take the story in the other direction, whether Dashner himself decides to continue the story, or a screenwriter were to pick it up.
FANDOM spoke to franchise director, Wes Ball, and actors Dylan O’Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and Kaya Scodelario, who play Thomas, Newt, and Teresa respectively. They shared their thoughts on where the franchise might go next.
“The world has to be rebuilt, so that’s going to be interesting to see what happens,” says Wes Ball. “And to see where our characters grow up. That could be kind of cool. They’re now essentially fully formed adults. With a new world laid out before them. How are they going to shape that? What are they going to turn into? It’s going to be fun to show.”
Despite his enthusiasm, Ball is adamant that his involvement in the franchise ends here.
“It’s been a fantastic, fun ride; with these stories, with the cast, with the crew we’ve had, too,” he says. “But this is kind of farewell for us. Farewell to the fans who’ve supported us for so long. But for me, I’m done. I’m ready to move on to other things and we’re happy to end it in three.”
He adds, “Of course, the studio could do whatever they feel is appropriate if there’s enough hunger for it.”
Exploring the Afterlife
Dylan O’Brien and Thomas Brodie-Sangster have other ideas about where another sequel could go.
“I think it would be cool if everyone came back to life,” laughs Dylan. “Or we went and explored the Maze Runners in the afterlife, and we get there with the dead people in the third movie … and Chuck’s there, and he’s the leader and he’s like: ‘Welcome, guys.’”
Thomas cuts in: “And the whole thing starts over again and we have to break out of the afterlife”.
“Back into life,” adds Dylan. “And then you break out of the afterlife and they’re just like: ‘Well, you’re still dead.”
They’re joking but maybe they should think about pitching it — it actually sounds pretty awesome. Kaya Scodelario, who plays Teresa in the franchise, meanwhile, wants the series to end with The Death Cure.
“I think it’s really special that it’s just three movies,” she says. “There’s something kind of old school about that. That’s how franchises used to be. It’s a beginning, a middle and an end. I think that’s really special. I don’t like the idea of trying to stretch something out just for the sake of selling more cinema tickets. This was the experience and how it was supposed to be.”
Maze Runner: The Death Cure is out now.