New Mexico Film Office Director Nick Maniatis announced today that "The Scorch Trials," produced by The Gotham Group and Temple Hill Entertainment for 20th Century Fox, will begin principal photography in New Mexico. Production on "The Scorch Trials," which is the sequel to "The Maze Runner," will take place in and around Albuquerque from late October 2014 through late January 2015.

The production will employ at least 250 New Mexico crew members, 18 New Mexico actors, and approximately 1,800 local background talent.

"We are excited to have 'The Scorch Trials' film in our city," said Mayor Richard J. Berry. "This sequel to the very popular 'The Maze Runner' will have a tremendous economic impact to Albuquerque. Welcome!"

"The Scorch Trials" is directed by Wes Ball ("The Maze Runner," "Beginners") and produced by Ellen Goldsmith-Vein ("The Maze Runner," "The Spiderwick Chronicles"), Wyck Godfrey ("Twilight," "The Fault in Our Stars"), Marty Bowen ("Twilight," "The Fault in Our Stars"), and Lee Stollman ("The Maze Runner," "Abduction"), with Joe Hartwick Jr. ("The Maze Runner," "Life as We Know It") as executive producer.

Written by T.S. Nowlin and based on the second book in the epic young-adult novel series by James Dashner, "The Scorch Trials" continues the saga begun in the current box-office hit "The Maze Runner." Now, the "Gladers" from the first movie must survive in "The Scorch," a futuristic wasteland ravaged by solar flares.

"The Scorch Trials" stars Dylan O'Brien ("The Maze Runner," "Teen Wolf"), Ki Hong Lee ("The Maze Runner," "She Has a Boyfriend"), Kaya Scodelario ("The Maze Runner," "Moon"), Thomas Brodie-Sangster ("The Maze Runner," "Game of Thrones"), Dexter Darden ("The Maze Runner," "Cadillac Records"), Giancarlo Esposito ("Breaking Bad," "The Usual Suspects"), Patricia Clarkson ("The Maze Runner," "Shutter Island") and Nathalie Emmanuel ("Game of Thrones," "Fast & Furious 7").