Wes Ball will be coming back to direct Maze Runner: The Death Cure

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

You didn't expect director Wes Ball to bail on THE MAZE RUNNER series as they head down the back stretch and toward the finish line, did you?

Well, if you did, you'd be dead wrong now with Ball confirming that he'll be back at the helm for MAZE RUNNER: THE DEATH CURE, the finale in Fox's adaptation of James Dashner's trilogy of novels. With THE SCORCH TRIALS seeing release this weekend and THE DEATH CURE lined up to go into production in December, Ball's inevitable return seemed a foregone conclusion. But people always have to ask the stupid questions in order to get the obvious answers, so… here's his definitive answer on the matter…

Ultimately our goal is to create an awesome three-movie trilogy. Not many people have done that and now I have the opportunity to do that. I am directing the third film and we’ve already been busy preparing and working on the final conclusion of this saga.

We are setting up a lot of things that aren’t necessarily apparent in the second movie, but it will pay off big time in the third movie. So that has been my approach and I’m glad that I can finish the series. I’m lucky and thankful that they asked me to direct all three films. At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to do it or not, but honestly, it was the cast that I wanted to work with again. They are such great people.

THE MAZE RUNNER was a pleasant surprise in Hollywood's quest to find the next young adult hit, and, as a result, Ball has earned the right to see this thing all the way through. Sometimes consistency can be a real strength for a series when the decision is made to maintain the same captain from beginning to end. Others may benefit from having a different voice guide various chapters, but Ball's steady hand and Dashner's source material are a big reason why THE MAZE RUNNER series has gotten off the ground as well as it has, especially compared to other adaptations which crashed and burned rather quickly upon takeoff.

MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS tests theater audiences this Friday, September 18, while MAZE RUNNER: THE DEATH CURE (in all of its one-part finale glory) is lined up for a February 17, 2017 date.