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\u201cThe Scorch Trials\u201d premiered in theaters in September 2015, expanding the\u00a0thrilling dystopian saga\u00a0launched by \u201cThe Maze Runner.\u201d<\/span> It was directed by Wes Ball and starred Dylan O\u2019Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Giancarlo Esposito.<\/p>\n The sequel quickly earned praise for its intense action<\/a> and atmospheric world-building. Unlike the first film\u2019s confined maze,\u00a0\u201cThe Scorch Trials\u201d unfolds across vast, sun-bleached ruins and perilous deserts<\/a>. These striking landscapes provide a haunting authenticity, leading many fans of the scorched horizons to ask about \u201cThe Scorch Trials\u201d filming locations<\/a>.<\/p>\n Even though the filming of \u201cThe Scorch Trials\u201d was mostly smooth, a controversy arose during a shoot at Diamond Tail Ranch \u2013 a private property north of Albuquerque that contains ancient Native American artifacts and ruins. This all came to be due to an interview with lead actor Dylan O\u2019Brien. In the interview, he suggested that crew members might have taken artifacts from the land, despite rules that prohibited it, as Entertainment Weekly reports. He expressed the matter jokingly, even stating that after some crew members allegedly took items, they were spooked because they fell ill and blamed superstitious matters.<\/p>\n And unsurprisingly, his remarks sparked backlash from local Pueblo communities. The ranch\u2019s management and local officials later clarified that no artifacts had been removed, per CTV News<\/a>. Nonetheless, the incident prompted a discussion around how Hollywood productions interact with Indigenous lands. Therefore, any travelers wishing to experience the remarkable cinematic appeal of New Mexico should be mindful of the land and sites that hold sacred cultural value.<\/p>\n One of the film\u2019s most intriguing visuals was the mysterious bridge, set against an apocalyptic backdrop. Some viewers may recognize that it resembles iconic structures like the Brooklyn Bridge or the Golden Gate. This element caused speculation about whether or not the story\u2019s setting might have once been a real-world city. As Fandom points out<\/a>, this is despite the setting being the semi-fictional, post-apocalyptic desert wasteland called \u201cthe Scorch.\u201d<\/p>\n As some viewers may have noticed, it is the same structure as the Golden Gate Bridge. What sets this version apart is that it\u2019s covered in huge amounts of sand, which solidifies the apocalyptic landscape. This visual was actually created as a digital composite by blending some recognizable architecture with real-life filming locations<\/a>. New Mexico\u2019s mountainous and desert backdrops gave the film a familiar yet decaying ambiance, as IMDb reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n Capturing movie magic here was no easy feat, especially considering the action-packed plot line. As visual effects supervisor Richard Hollander shared with FX Guide<\/a>, production had to merge some practical set pieces with extensive CGI. So entire ruined city environments were built in 3D, and CGI allowed them to scale them. This helped to make the ruined cities look both authentic and surreal. And the result is a cinematic hybrid that heightens the film\u2019s tension. It also reveals the disorientation of the characters themselves, who are displaced in the desolate setting.<\/p>\n\u2018The Scorch Trials\u2019 Filming Controversy<\/h2>\n
What Bridge Is In \u2018The Scorch Trials\u2019?<\/h2>\n
A Traveller\u2019s Guide To Visiting Albuquerque, New Mexico<\/h2>\n