Dylan O'Brien is "one tough cookie," said Maze Runner director Wes Ball in a handwritten note posted to Twitter after the Teen Wolf star was hurt on the set of the upcoming film, The Maze Runner: The Death Cure, last Thursday.
The last few days were "a whirlwind of emotions," Ball wrote in a letter to O'Brien, the actor who plays Thomas in The Maze Runner films. That whirlwind of emotion included feeling of sadness, anger and guilt, he said.
"But, ultimately I find myself left with a deep love and respect for Dylan," the director said. "He is one tough cookie."
Ball went on to apologize for the grief that the accident caused O'Brien and his loved ones, along with the anguish it inflicted on the cast and crew of the film.
"It's scary seeing your friend get hurt, but fortunately, Dylan is going to be just fine," Ball wrote "After a few weeks of rest and recovery he'll be back up and running to finish our adventure together. All the best."
— Wes Ball (@wesball) March 19, 2016
Twentieth Century Fox issued its own statement on the incident, acknowledging the accident and reporting a temporary halt on production.
"Dylan O'Brien was injured yesterday while filming 'Maze Runner: The Death Cure' in Vancouver, Canada," the company writes. "He was immediately transferred to a local hospital for observation and treatment. Production on the film will be shut down while he recovers. Our thoughts go out to Dylan for a full and speedy recovery."
Injury
O'Brien was involved in an accident on the set of the film on March 18, allegedly suffering several broken bones, according to TMZ. Something went wrong during the scene and the actor was said to have been struck by a car.
The 24-year-old actor was rushed to a hospital in British Columbia for treatment and observation, since his injuries were listed as "severe" at the time. Later that day, James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner series, took to Twitter to shed a little light on the incident.
Production is postponed but certainly not cancelled. All that matters now is that Dylan recovers. We love you, Dylan!!!
— James Dashner (@jamesdashner) March 18, 2016
I just want to let everyone know that yes, Dylan was hurt, but that he’s going to be okay. Not life threatening in any way. — James Dashner (@jamesdashner) March 18, 2016
Death Cure
The Death Cure is the third film in The Maze Runner series, which is based on a collection of books by the same name.
In The Maze Runner series, youths are dropped into a mysterious labyrinth and band together to seek ways to escape the ever-changing maze.
Thomas, played by O'Brien, has no memory of his past. But he's skilled enough that he joins the ranks of the "Runners," a special group tasked with scouting out new ways to escape the labyrinth.
In the third installment of the film series, the lead character is in search of a cure for the deadly disease called "Flare."
Apparently, the movie is still on track for its Feb. 17, 2017 release date.
