'Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials': New trailer and why the first film did well

A new trailer has been released for the film 'Scorch,' which is based on the second installment in James Dashner's young adult series. The first became a box office champion after having been released in the quieter fall movie season, showing how thinking on the best movie release dates is changing.

A new trailer has been released for the upcoming film “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials.”

“Scorch” is, like the first movie “The Maze Runner,” based on the bestselling young adult series by James Dashner. In the first film, Thomas (actor Dylan O’Brien) awakes as he is being taken to a strange place called the Glade. He learns from the other teenagers also taken there that there is only one way out: through a maze that’s full of danger.

The movies co-star “Game of Thrones” actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Kaya Scodelario of “Skins.” The trailer for the second film features another “Thrones” actor – Aiden Gillen, who appears to be in some position of authority over Thomas and the other young adults. 

The first “Maze” film was a box office success and became so by following a formula with which the mega-hit “Hunger Games” films also found success. At the movies, there are traditionally two big seasons: the summer movie season, which is chock-full of superhero and action-oriented blockbusters, and the end of the year, in which various Oscars contenders arrive during November and December (and, increasingly, some big-budget movies as well). The first “Hunger Games” film, however, headed for March and became the third-highest-grossing movie of the year, according to the website Box Office Mojo. While one must of course include the built-in fan base with the high-profile young adult movie adaptation, the fact that the movie came out in a slower month may have brought in new fans who had fewer other options.

“Maze” also succeeded with this strategy. Coming out in the quieter month of September, it had one of the biggest opening weekends for that month ever, according to Box Office Mojo. Its success ensured a sequel and means even more fans will likely come to the second movie when it comes out in September 2015.