Maze Runner 3.0
DYLAN O’BRIEN MAKES IT A THRILLING DASH TO THE END
“EVERY maze has an end”. That’s the tagline for The Death Cure, the final instalment of The Maze Runner trilogy featuring Teen Wolf star Dylan O’Brien as Thomas. Not only does it perfectly sum up the film, it also best describes Thomas’ mission: To end the war once and for all.
What war, you ask? Let’s recap: In the first film of the series based on novels by James Dashner, Thomas wakes up in a mysterious giant maze patrolled by deadly monsters.
With no memory of his past, he finds himself trapped with a group of teens who call themselves the Gladers.
In the sequel The Scorch Trials, Thomas, having escaped the maze, learns that the world outside may not be as idyllic as he had hoped.
Teresa (Kaya Scodelario) betrayed the other Gladers and Minho (Ki-Hong Lee) was captured by a shadowy organisation called WCKD.
In The Death Cure, Thomas is determined to infiltrate the Last City — the stronghold of WCKD — and, hopefully, save the world or what’s left of it.
“He is more experienced and mature now and he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders,” says O’Brien in an interview.
“There’s so much guilt in him since he feels like he caused all of this, from the beginning with his history with WCKD to everyone they have lost along the way.
“More than anything, though, it’s not like he’s looking for some relief for himself, but he truly wants to save and protect his friends.
“I think that’s ultimately the goal, to finally come up with a plan to save everyone, and just end this war once and for all.”
Although Thomas is told that it’s impossible for him to “save everyone”, O’Brien, 26, just loves how his character responds by saying “I can try”.
“Those three words show the epitome of that character; his heart, and everything that he fights for. It’s just a really nice little moment, I think.”
Now screening in cinemas, The Death Cure also stars Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Newt), Dexter Darden (Frypan), Aidan Gillen (Janson) and Patricia Clarkson (Ava Paige).
Directed by Wes Ball (who also directed the first two films), The Death Cure was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia and Cape Town, South Africa in 2016.
O’Brien talks more about The Death Cure below.
THOMAS HAS A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP WITH TERESA. ULTIMATELY, WILL THEY HAVE THE SAME GOAL?
Yeah, one of my favourite things about the story has always been their different perspectives and moral ambiguity. You’re not sure who is right or wrong. I’ve always loved that about the franchise.
In the third movie, I never wanted Thomas and Teresa to meet again and just hate each other. That would just seem so basic tome.
No matter what she did to him, deep down he understands the reason but he believes in something else so they have gone their separate ways.
Nevertheless, it has always been this connection. She was the first one he connected with. That’s not going to change, no matter what they’re disagreeing on or going through.
PERHAPS THOMAS ALSO REALISES THAT WCKD, DESPITE THE NAME, MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE WICKED...
Exactly. It’s something that he’s never entertained or has never crossed his mind before.
Thomas has been the eyes of the audience and throughout the first two movies, you’re convinced that WCKD is the Death Star.
I think it will be really interesting to
see how people come around to seeing the other sides of everything. That’s what Thomas finally has to do, in the most heartwrenching way, at the worst time ever.
HOW MUCH DOES WES BALL DIRECTING ALL THREE MOVIES MEAN TO YOU?
It meant the world to me to return (to the franchise) with Wes and see it through. It was just amazing to go back, to reunite with the others, to have that sense of relief, to finish what we started.
We had a great crew. My dad was out there with us. Wrapping it up with everybody, and being in South Africa will forever be one of the most special experiences for me.
HOW DIFFERENT DID SOUTH AFRICA FEEL FROM YOUR EXPERIENCES OF WORKING ON THE PREQUELS?
Each has been entirely separate experiences but South Africa felt very different. For the first two movies, we were even staying in the same hotel on the same floor. So many things were identical in a way, and yet they were so profoundly different.
That’s what’s so amazing about Wes. One can sense a completely different world from the setting and that changes things. We could feel the tides changing, these different, distinct chapters.
The Maze Runner is a classic trilogy. I always knew that’s how Wes wanted to go about it. He spoke about it like that from the very beginning. Even the music scoring was important to him, besides telling a heroic story.
We’ve made three really special movies, and it doesn’t get better than that.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ABOUT WHERE YOU’D LIKE TO GO?
My first official acting job was on Teen Wolf.
The Maze Runner came up maybe a year or two into that. I’ve always had these two homes.
I’m going to be entering this new phase of my career and life and I’ll need to keep the right attitude about it.
I am excited while also mourning and celebrating these two things that will forever be the most special for me.
There’s just no way that anything’s going to beat these things in my heart.
I’m excited to pick my next adventure, character and filmmaker.
I know I’m going to work with Wes again. We’re too good friends for that not to happen. It’s also a sad time because nothing will ever replace my time with these people I’ve worked with. Some of these guys will forever be my friends, some of the greatest friends I’ve ever had.
We won’t be hanging out 12 to 15 hours a day for three straight months anymore but the bond and camaraderie that we’ve built, I’m glad that it happened. I want to do new, different, interesting things. It’s exciting to see what’s next, to just keep going, to start a different chapter, and to see what it holds.
I’m going to be entering this new phase of my career and life and I’ll need to keep the right attitude about it.
Dylan O’Brien