While THE MAZE RUNNER seems like it may have gotten lost in the Young Adult shuffle, the modestly budgeted $34 million flick has grossed almost $200 million worldwide. Announcement of a film adaptation for the sequel novel, THE MAZE RUNNER: SCORCH TRIALS, came soon after the movie's opening weekend. While it's become all too common for YA series to split up their final chapters into two films, director Wes Ball has different plans for the series.
Here's what Ball had to say:
I think three is the number; beginning, middle, end, that's it. Four? I think there's something off about four. For me, if I have any say in it, there's three movies basically. We're not going to [split a book in two], no way. I think three movies is the right number, STAR WARS!
While it's a bit of a stretch to compare this trilogy to STAR WARS, I definitely see where he's coming from in terms of a beginning, middle, and end. Not only does splitting a book into two parts rob one film of an end (and the following of a beginning) but it completely destroys the rule of thirds that works so well on artistic mediums. However, THE MAZE RUNNER was no HUNGER GAMES, although if the second flick miraculously brings it those numbers, I'm sure the producers would have something to say regarding the final entry.
THE MAZE RUNNER is now in theaters.