While just over $30 million domestically may not be anything to brag about for some films, it is enough for 20th Century Fox to greenlight the sequel to THE MAZE RUNNER. With $60 million internationally after it’s debut weekend, THE MAZE RUNNER looks to be a moderate success and one the studio is willing to roll the dice on one more time.
Variety reports that THE MAZE RUNNER: SCORCH TRIALS is now set for a release date of Sept. 18, 2015. The book series consists of four novels in all, one of which is a prequel. SCORCH TRIALS will see the surviving characters continue into another mystery involving a deadly disease and solar flares. THE MAZE RUNNER only cost the studio $34 million and shouldn’t be much of a gamble going forward, especially with the young adult film market not doing as well in recent years aside from THE HUNGER GAMES series.
There is no word on whether screenwriter Noah Oppenheim or director Wes Ball will helm the sequel, but stay tuned for more details.