Escape Room 2 Theory: The Former Champions Worked For Minos

Escape Room: Tournament of Champions introduces other former Escape Room champions, but they could’ve been another part of Minos’ scheme and been working for the organization. The original Escape Room focused on Zoey Davis (Taylor Russell) and five strangers as they attempt to live through a series of increasingly deadly rooms. The film was a surprise hit for Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures in 2019, as it earned over $150 million worldwide. This was good news for viewers who liked the puzzle-solving horror film, as Escape Room‘s ending directly set up how Zoey’s story could continue with Ben Miller (Logan Miller) after she saved him from the Games Master and Minos Corporation, who ran the entire operation.

Directed by Adam Robitel once again, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions picks up shortly after the events of the first film. Zoey and Ben believe they are the only ones to survive Minos’ twisted games, and Zoey’s determination to uncover their presence takes them to New York. But, when Zoey’s necklace is stolen, a foot chase to get it back leaves Zoey and Ben in a subway car. Little did they know this was part of Minos’ next plan for them, but they quickly learn that they aren’t the only ones who know about Minos. The other four passengers in their subway car all have a past with the organization’s games. Prior to Escape Room 2‘s end, they all move through the different rooms, the complexity of them routinely means most of the former champions die. The movie ends with Zoey and Ben making it out alive and thinking they beat Minos with some help from Amanda Harper (Deborah Ann Woll). But, the very end reveals Minos played the long game to get Zoey exactly where they want.

There are plenty of unexpected moments and twists in Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, though, and the sequel proved that some of the biggest ones could come in future installments. One surprise that Escape Room 2 might have secretly included pertains to the former champions. Theo (Carlito Olivero), Nathan (Thomas Concquerel), Rachel (Holland Roden), and Brianna (Indya Moore) all have a supposed history with Minos and die before the movie is over. However, Escape Room 2‘s ending recontextualizes everything that came before and could mean that these “former champions” who worked with Zoey and Ben were really working for Minos all along.

Escape Room 2 Makes The Whole World A Game

The original Escape Room established a fairly straightforward premise and believable world. As is the case with most sequels, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions expands on the mythology established before it. The idea of other former champions did this, but that is just the start of what the franchise looks like by the end. Zoey begins to question how easy it seemed for her and Ben to survive their second run-in with Minos, tell the authorities about what really happened, and get some justice on the corporation that tried to end their lives. But, Escape Room 2‘s ending indicates Minos’ plan all along was to get Zoey on a plane, her greatest fear.

This reshapes the entirety of Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, especially when Zoey believes she sees her therapist on the same plane. Instead, she finds an older woman with several of her therapist’s possessions, the same ones the therapist joked with Zoey about being clues to what Minos was actually up to. It appears that this actually was true, with the therapist herself possibly playing a part in Minos’ plan. The organization’s power and reach are much greater after what the sequel reveals about it, with the movie even turning Amanda into a Games Master and competitor in the finale after Minos kidnapped her daughter. All of this emphasizes the idea that nothing and no one that happens in the Escape Room franchise can be taken at face value.

Theory: The Former Champions Worked For Minos

One of 2021’s most anticipated horror movies, the various twists and surprises baked into the Escape Room movies and how Escape Room 2 ends make it possible that the other champions Zoey and Ben encounter aren’t who they seem to be either. The very beginning of Escape Room: Tournament of Champions explains that Minos brought together six individuals who survived previous games. While this gives the movie a quick way to get viewers back into the deadly contest, the film never takes a moment to explain how the other four former champions wound up as the only other people in this subway car. It all feels a bit too convenient at the moment, and even more so after Minos’ long game for Zoey is revealed. If the Escape Room franchise has taught viewers anything, it’s that nothing can be taken at face value, and that thought process could apply to the former champions themselves.

It’s possible that 2021 horror flick Escape Room: Tournament of Champions‘ secret explanation for the former champions is that they are working for Minos in some capacity. The sequel doesn’t provide many details about the new characters to the story, and the champions working for Minos might have been set up through Amanda’s return. She was revealed to be working for Minos because the organization kidnapped her child, which forced Amanda to create the latest rooms. These champions might also be under the control of Minos. The corporation and its wealthy clientele have proven the ability to know a lot about the participants, so finding a way to force all of them to play a role in the revenge plot against Zoey is plausible.

There is also the possibility that the former champions in Escape Room 2 work for Minos on a more full-time or regular basis. Since the sequel teases anyone from Zoey’s therapist to the New York pickpocket to the cops who talked to Zoey and Ben after they thought they escaped could be working for Minos, who is to say the former champions don’t do the same? The vague details on their pasts and protecting Zoey could all be signs that these “former champions” are really Minos employees in some capacity. Either scenario gives Minos its best chance to ensure Zoey is fulfilled by the end of her journey and ready to get on the plane, while also leaving room to explain that the champions are still alive.

How Each Champion Could’ve Survived

If the former champions do work for Minos, it won’t be too difficult for Escape Room 3 to reveal how each of them are still alive. Escape Room 2 retconned Amanda’s “death” to show she fell through a holographic floor and landed safely. Minos’ technology gives them a chance to do just about anything, but most of the deaths can be reversed without too wild of explanations. Theo is the first former champion to die, as he’s electrocuted inside the subway car when it becomes a powerful Tesla coil. But, his death is only confirmed by one of the other champions. His electric shock could’ve been faked or not fatal at all.

Nathan is the second former champion to “die,” but Escape Room: Tournament of Champions already showed that there is reason to believe he’s not gone for good. He appeared to die in the beach room when he disappeared into the sinking sand. However, this is how Ben appeared to die shortly thereafter, but the sequel confirmed he survived his fall through the sand, so Nathan could have as well. Rachel and Brianna die at the same time in the New York acid rain location. This could be undone since the movie only shows them outside the cab keeping Zoey safe, and she is taken to the next room before their deaths are shown. The rain could’ve become non-acidic once Zoey was safe, leaving Rachel and Brianna to act out their deaths to push Zoey to the conclusion.