It's been a difficult process scheduling Pacific Rim 2 following the first movie's release in 2013. Originally the sequel was set to come out on April 7, 2017, but it was then moved to August 4, 2017. That goal was eventually scrapped once the sequel was halted, and for months it was without a spot on the calendar. Now that the movie is back up and running, it's finally secured a new release date for the next bout of monster and giant robot action: February 23, 2018.
Legendary announced (via Deadline) the new release date earlier today, moving away from the traditional summer release like its predecessor and resting comfortably in the second month of the year. So far Pacific Rim 2 doesn't face any competition during that weekend, but that will inevitably change. Other major movies that have been slated for February 2018 include Fifty Shades Free, Larrikins and Black Panther. Pacific Rim 2 is scheduled to kick off production near the end of the year.
February has always been one of those months where action-packed, explosive big screen events haven't done we'll with moviegoers, but as Deadpool proved earlier this year, it's not impossible for a blockbuster to experience a lot of success outside the summer or Christmas movie season. That's not to say that Pacific Rim 2 will necessarily draw in the same amount of money as the Merc with the Mouth's adventure, but in a year packed with plenty of superhero movies, sequels and other adaptations, it has a better chance standing out in February than it would in the more traditional months for a movie of that size.
While the release date announcement is welcome, details surrounding what to expect from Pacific Rim 2's story. All that's certain is that it will feature even more of the Jaegers vs. Kaiju action that drew in over $410 million in the first movie. Guillermo del Toro was originally set to return as director, but he was eventually forced to depart (though he'll still contribute as a producer), and Daredevil Season 1 showrunner Steve DeKnight was hired to helm the sequel. Jurassic World writer Derek Connolly is working on the script with DeKnight, which was originally worked on by del Toro and Pacific Rim scribe Travis Beacham. As far as actors go, Star Wars: The Force Awakens' John Boyega was cast last month to play the lead, the yet-to-be-named son of Idris Elba's character from the first movie, Stacker Pentecos. Now that a release date has been set, more casting information should start to trickle through in the coming months.
Do you think that February 23, 2018 is a good release date for Pacific Rim 2 or would you have preferred it come out sometime more conventional? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
