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Maze Runner Star Dylan O'Brien "Healing Very Well" After On-Set Accident, Will Return to Work in About Six Weeks

Actor is "one tough cookie," says co-star Giancarlo Esposito

By Marc Malkin Apr 05, 2016 1:36 PMTags
Watch: Dylan O'Brien's Scary On-Set Accident

We're happy to report that Dylan O'Brien's recovery is coming along so well that he's planning on returning to work next month.

The Teen Wolf actor, 24, was seriously injured in mid-March while filming a scene for The Maze Runner: The Death Cure in Vancouver, Canada.

"He's healing very well," his Maze Runner co-star Giancarlo Esposito told me last night at the premiere of his new film The Jungle Book. "He got put together a couple of weeks ago...He's one tough cookie."

Filming was immediately shut down after the accident, but Esposito said shooting is set to resume on May 15. Death Cure is the third film in the Maze Runner franchise.

A report on WorkSafeBC said to be about O'Brien's accident claims he suffered a "concussion, facial fracture and lacerations" after falling to the ground when the motorcycle he was driving went into a slide after completing a stunt. (O'Brien is not identified in the WorkSafeBC report to protect the privacy of workers.)

"The worker struck his head on the pavement and temporarily lost consciousness," the report says.

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"He got his bell rung," Esposito said. "I would imagine many who witnessed thought that was it...[But] he's a survivor. The one good thing about Dylan that I think is going to help him get back on schedule with us very soon is he has a great attitude."

And a great sense of humor.

Esposito sent O'Brien a text while he was in hospital "knowing he wouldn't get it for about three days when he was laying up in the hospital getting ready for surgery.

"He opens it up and he goes, 'Oh, my God, I almost broke my face laughing,'" Esposito said. "I said, 'If you wanted to get out of work I have connections at the studio. I would have gotten you off for a couple of days. You didn't have to do that to yourself.'"

Maze Runner director Wes Ball tweeted an update on O'Brien's condition not long after the accident.

"Well, it's been a whirlwind of emotions these past few days. I've been overwhelmed with feelings of anger and sadness and guilt," he wrote on Twitter. "But ultimately I find myself left with just a deep love and respect for Dylan. He is one tough cookie."

Ball continued, "I'm sorry for the grief this accident has caused his friends and family as well as my wonderful cast and crew. It's scary seeing your friend get hurt, but fortunately, Dylan is going to be just fine. After a few weeks of rest and recovery he will be back up and running to finish our adventure together. All the best."