Though the latest Maze Runner movie hit a major blip when lead Dylan O'Brien suffered severe injuries on set, the film is back on track and set to start filming in South Africa soon. Maze Runner: The Death Cure will see release next February, and fans of the popular YA series by James Dashner are likely excited to finally see a light at the end of the tunnel for this film.

The movie follows protagonist Thomas (O'Brien) and co. as they set out to cure a dystopian plague called the "Flare." The crew meets some strange characters during their travels, and the movie just landed their top pick to play one of the book's most memorable characters.

According to a report from Deadline, Walton Goggins has been officially cast to play Lawrence in the upcoming film, directed by Wes Ball with a script by T.S. Nowlin (the pair directed and wrote the first two Maze Runner films, respectively). Lawrence is described as "an unusual and dangerous character who is part-revolutionary, part-anarchist, and a voice for the voiceless people."

Walton Goggins and Kimberly Hebert Gregory in Vice Principals

The well-versed Goggins has a filmography spanning decades, but he is perhaps best known for his roles as Shane Vendrell in The Shield and Boyd Crowder in Justified. He was nominated for an Emmy for the latter role. Goggins currently stars alongside Danny McBride in the HBO series Vice Principals, a comedy about two deranged vice principals looking to stage a coup d'état on the new head of their school. Goggins will also star in the upcoming Tomb Raider as sinister cult leader Mathias.

This is certainly a great get for The Death Cure, as Goggins is renowned for his versatility. The actor is often cast in roles that demand an edge of creepiness (you might remember him as Laugher in American Ultra), so it sounds like Lawrence is a perfect fit. This is an interesting choice given the films' demographic, however, since teens and 'tweens will likely be unfamiliar with Goggins' work. Perhaps this is a move to draw in some older viewers, or at least pique the interests of parents who have been unwittingly designated as supervisors at yet another dystopian moviegoing outing.

Whatever the case may be, it looks like luck for the Maze Runner producers is turning around. Now they just have to wrap shooting with all actors intact, and this well-received trilogy of movies will be complete.

Next: Vice Principals Season Finale Review & Discussion

Source: Deadline

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