‘The Maze Runner: The Death Cure’ Premiere: Release Date of 'Maze Runner 3' Pushed Back to 2018 Due To Cast Members' Issues

Sep 26, 2016 09:58 AM EDT

The delayed production of the upcoming film, 'The Maze Runner: The Death Cure,' was initially attributed to actor Dylan O'Brien’s injury on set last March. While filming was set to resume in May, production date was further pushed back to allow time for O’ Brien’s recovery.

The up-and-coming star reportedly fell from a moving set that resembled the back of a train, and was afterwards hit by a car during an unfortunate take.

Hollywood producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura revealed that the injury was much worse than what was publicized.

"It was more than disconcerting. I never saw him in his worst form, but it was described to me. It was really scary,” he shared, while adding: "He came close to dying, I'm pretty sure. It was enough to shake your core."

Di Bonaventura is currently working with O'Brien on his latest movie, ‘American Assassin,’ together with actor Michael Keaton.

Now, it has been confirmed that filming for the ‘Maze Runner’ sequel will continue in February 2017 and the official premiere will be set in January 2018. In a report by Deadline, O’Brien and the rest of the cast members will return early next year to shoot, but the location will not be in Vancouver, British Columbia anymore. More details are yet to be announced about the new filming location.

The ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’ will be helmed by Wes Ball and will be based on the script penned by T.S. Nowlin, as drawn out from the books by James Dashner. It remains uncertain, though, whether a number of scenes were still filmed in Vancouver during O’ Brien’s time-off for recovery.

The first two movies, titled ‘The Maze Runner’ and ‘The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials,’ were released in September of 2014 and 2015, respectively. The first film grossed $348.3 million while its successor raked in $312.3 million at the box office.

Since the first movie, Thomas has already been running to escape the Maze with his Glader friends and is thrust into a deadly journey through the Scorch Trials, which takes place in a hot, desolate wasteland in the second film.

Cast members who are set to return and reprise their roles on ‘The Maze Runner: The Death Cure’ include Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Will Poulter, Ki Hong Lee, Aidan Gillen and Giancarlo Esposito, among others.

The science-fiction adventures of ‘The Maze Runner’ franchise are reportedly to carry on with two prequels if the third sequel achieves commercial success as that of its predecessors. These prequel stories will reveal the events that led to ‘The Maze Runner’ plot.

Meanwhile, ‘The Maze Runner: The Death Cure’ premiere is set on Jan. 12, 2018.