Pacific Rim seems to be a divisive film, particularly with genre fans (for the record, I love it). With the long-gestating sequel, Pacific Rim 2: Maelstrom now very much a certainty, the production has bagged its female lead.
Pop singer Cailee Spaeny has been announced to star in the film alongside John Boyega (The Force Awakens, Attack the Block), Scott (son of Clint) Eastwood (Suicide Squad, Texas Chainsaw 3D) and Max Martini, who reprises his role as Herc Hansen. Boyega is playing the son of Marshal Stacker Pentecost, played in the original film by Idris Elba. Charlie Hunnam, who was originally set to return, dropped out a while back due to scheduling conflicts.
Following the release the 2013 original, it looked likely that director Guillermo del Toro would be returning to helm a sequel. Three years and various stop-starts later, Pacific Rim 2 is to be directed by Steven S. DeKnight, who has previously written, produced and directed episodes of Angel, Dollhouse and Daredevil among others.
Spaeny will be a new face to those unfamiliar with her music (and I most definitely fall into this camp), this marking only her third acting credit.
Plot details are no doubt a little while off, with the film pencilled in for a February 23rd, 2018 release.
Words: Kevan Farrow (@KevanX)
