For a while there, it seemed like the sequel to Pacific Rim would never actually happen as the project was delayed over and over again and various creative teams joined and departed it. Things finally appear to be moving along with the kaiju-fueled adventure, though, as star John Boyega revealed cameras are rolling on the film, which now has the official title Pacific Rim: Maelstrom.
The Star Wars: The Force Awakens actor posted a photo of the cover page for the film’s script, which finally reveals — or possibly confirms, depending on how closely you have been following development — the long-awaited sequel’s title.
Boyega posted the photo on Instagram with the caption, “First day on Pacific Rim today. Here’s to a great adventure ahead.”
Directed by Daredevil and Spartacus showrunner Steven S. DeKnight, Pacific Rim: Maelstrom casts Boyega as the son of Stacker Pentecost, the head of the Jaeger program played by Idris Elba (Luther) in the original, 2013 film. Boyega is joined by Scott Eastwood (Gran Torino), Cailee Spaeny, Jing Tian (Special ID), and Levi Meaden (Aftermath). Ron Perlman is rumored to be reprising his role as black market kaiju organ dealer Hannibal Chau.
The original Pacific Rim was directed by Guillermo del Toro and chronicled humanity’s battle against monstrous creatures — called kaiju — that have begun emerging from mysterious, inter-dimensional portals in the ocean. In order to fight the monsters, humans create gigantic robots called Jaeger that can be maneuvered by a pair of mentally linked pilots.
Pacific Rim earned just $101 million domestically, but $411 million worldwide, against its $190 million production budget.
Jurassic World co-writer Derek Connolly penned the script for Pacific Rim: Maelstrom, which is scheduled to hit theaters February 23, 2018.
