Giancarlo Esposito joins The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials

With 20th Century Fox moving very quickly on THE MAZE RUNNER: SCORCH TRIALS to capitalize on the first film's surprise success at the box office, casting has been shooting higher than the first film which featured almost no major names. In addition to GAME OF THRONES actor Aiden Gillen joining last week, we now have the addition of BREAKING BAD and ONCE UPON A TIME actor Giancarlo Esposito.

The Hollywood Reporter says Esposito will play Jorge, a leader of a group of survivors known as the Cranks that encounter the group of teens led by Dylan O'Brien. Esposito's character will also appear in the third film if it were to be made.

THE MAZE RUNNER: SCORCH TRIALS will pick up where the first film left off and follow the characters from the first film as they deal with an evil group known as WICKED has another test that involves a deadly virus and a band of cannibals.

Esposito was iconic as BREAKING BAD villain Gus Fring before appearing as the Magic Mirror on ABC's ONCE UPON A TIME and in a lead role on NBC's REVOLUTION. He will next be seen in Jon Favreau's THE JUNGLE BOOK as well as PATRIOTIC TREASON with Ed Harris which he will also direct.

THE MAZE RUNNER: SCORCH TRIALS is set for release on September 18, 2015.