Giancarlo Esposito is to star in the ‘Maze Runner’ sequel.
The 56-year-old actor – who is best known for playing the role of drug lord Gustavo ‘Gus’ Fring in hit AMC series ‘Breaking Bad’ – has signed up for the second instalment of the upcoming sci-fi action thriller based on James Dashner’s novel of the same name, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The first film – which stars Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter and Thomas Brodie-Sangster – follows sixteen year old Thomas (O’Brien), who wakes up in an elevator with no memory of who he is and discovers he’s been delivered to the middle of an intricate maze along with a number of other boys who have been trying to find their way out.
In the sequel, ‘Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials’, Esposito will play Jorge, a leader of a group of survivors known as the Cranks that encounter the group of teens led by Thomas.
Jorge also appears in the third book in Dashner’s trilogy, ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’, suggesting Esposito has signed up for more than one film.
Director Wes Ball will return to helm the sequel, along with producers Temple Hill Entertainment and the Gotham Group.
Esposito – who is set to reprise his role as Magic Mirror/Sidney Glass/Genie in ABC’s ‘Once Upon A Time’ – is currently filming for Disney’s upcoming live-action version of ‘The Jungle Book’ alongside Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray and Idris Elba.
The film will also star Christopher Walken, Lupita Nyong’o, Ben Kingsley and newcomer Neel Sethi as Mowgli.
Giancarlo Esposito to star in Maze Runner sequel
