Uncancel the apocalypse everyone, so we can cancel it again: The Force Awakens and Attack the Block star John Boyega will lead the cast of Pacific Rim 2.
Boyega will be playing the lead role, currently unnamed but definitely the son of Stacker Pentecost, Idris Elba’s character from the first film. Let’s hope Boyega’s character continues the Pacific Rim tradition of having a ridiculously silly/cool name, just like everything else in this wonderful universe of kaiju/mecha brawling — but for now, I’m just gonna refer to him as ‘Pacific Finn’. Director of the first Pacific Rim and franchise co-creator Guillermo Del Toro, who’s been teasing new information about the sequel on social media, had this to say about Boyega’s casting in an official press release:
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.
There’s no mention of other returning cast yet, although it’s likely Pacific Rim protagonists Rinko Kikuchi and Charlie Hunnam will return. Perhaps as mentors to the younger Pentecost?
Who knows, but it is great to hear some amazing news about Pacific Rim 2 instead of constantly worrying if it will ever get made. According to the press release, production on the Stephen S. DeKnight-led-sequel will begin later this year.