Despite PACIFIC RIM being an extremely fun ride, I wasn't really expecting a sequel considering its lackluster box-office performance in North America. However, once again proving that the international markets are more influential than ever, a sequel was put into development based on PACIFIC RIM's strength overseas. The sequel still experienced its share of setbacks, at one point it was even put on the back-burner indefinitely, but thankfully for those of us who wanted more of Guillermo del Toro's world of Kaiju and Jaegers, PACIFIC RIM 2 proved too resilient to stay dead for long and now, it even has a new release date.
Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures have announced that PACIFIC RIM 2 will hit theaters on February 23, 2018. Guillermo del Toro will still be involved with the sequel but he won't be directing this time around. Steven S. DeKnight (Daredevil) will be helming the film from a script by Derek Connolly (JURASSIC WORLD). Although several of the characters from the first film were expected to return, the press-release only mentions John Boyega at this time. Boyega will be taking the leading role in PACIFIC RIM 2 as the son of Idris Elba's Stacker Pentecost. It remains to be seen whether Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, or any of the other characters who made it out of the first film alive will continue on with the franchise, but I hope we'll see them turn up in some capacity.