Recent word on the Pacific Rim sequel has been less than promising. First, it lost director Guillermo del Toro, who was replaced by director Steven S. DeKnight (which I suppose is good news if you’re a fan of Spartacus or the first season of Daredevil, but I’ve never seen Spartacus and I thought the first season of Daredevil was fairly lackluster). Then they brought on Jurassic World screenwriter Derek Connolly, and it’s not like Jurassic World has the strongest script in the world.

But today we’ve finally got some good news for Pacific Rim 2. The production has announced that Star WarsJohn Boyega has been tapped to star in the upcoming film, and he’ll be playing the son of Idris Elba’s character, Stacker Pentecost. The press release makes no mention of any other actors, but I hope that at the very least Rinko Kikuchi’s Mako Mori is returning because her relationship with Stacker could be a great source of tension between her and Boyega’s character. Is Raleigh Beckett fell down a well and was never heard from or spoken of again, that would also be okay.


Pacific Rim 2 is targeting a fourth quarter start date. Boyega’s upcoming projects include Star Wars: Episode VIII, The Circle with Tom Hanks and Emma Watson, Imperial Dreams, Watership Down with James McAvoy and Sir Ben Kingsley, and the play Woyzeck.

Here's some tweets from del Toro about the production:

[EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/RealGDT/status/739886383024607232[/EMBED_TWITTER] [EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/RealGDT/status/739886645458145280[/EMBED_TWITTER] [EMBED_TWITTER]https://twitter.com/RealGDT/status/739887463217434624[/EMBED_TWITTER]

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And here’s the press release:

JOHN BOYEGA SET TO STAR IN THE SECOND INSTALLMENT OF LEGENDARY’S PACIFIC RIM FRANCHISE

The Action Adventure Film Will be Directed by Steven S. DeKnight

 

BURBANK, CA, June 6, 2016 – Legendary Pictures has tapped John Boyega, one of today’s most talented rising stars, the lead role for the second installment of its PACIFIC RIM franchise.  The film, which is targeting a 4th Quarter start date is rapidly taking shape as a key project on Legendary’s upcoming slate with Boyega playing the son of Idris Elba's character from the original film.

 

The project will be directed by Steven S. DeKnight based on the world created by Guillermo del Toro and Travis Beacham. Thomas Tull, Mary Parent, Jon Jashni, and del Toro will produce the action adventure film along with Boyega and Femi Oguns under their Upper Room Productions shingle. Cale Boyter will serve as the film’s executive producer.

 

“It is undeniable that with all his talent and natural charm, John stands out amongst today's generation of young leading men,” said Mary Parent, Legendary’s Vice Chairman of Worldwide Production.

 

"I am very proud and happy to welcome John into a fantastic sandbox. The Pacific Rim universe will be reinforced with him as a leading man as it continues to be a multicultural, multi-layered world. ‘The World saving the world’ was our goal and I couldn't think of a better man for the job," stated del Toro.

 

John Boyega's previous credits include STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS and ATTACK THE BLOCK. His upcoming projects include STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII, THE CIRCLE opposite Tom Hanks and Emma Watson, IMPERIAL DREAMS, WATERSHIP DOWN alongside James McAvoy and Sir Ben Kingsley, and he will star on stage next year in WOYZECK at The Old Vic. He is represented by WME and Identity Agency Group in the UK and Hansen Jacobson.

 

The film will be distributed by Universal Pictures around the world with the exception of China.


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Image via Legendary Pictures
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Image via Legendary Pictures
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Image via Legendary Pictures