"Aftermath" actor Levi Meaden and "True Detective" alum Adria Arjona have joined "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" star John Boyega in the cast of "Pacific Rim 2." "Spartacus" director Steven S. DeKnight will take over the directing reins from Guillermo del Toro.
According to Variety, Meaden will play as an irreverent and offbeat cadet Ilya in "Pacific Rim 2." The plot details are still unclear. Boyega is speculated to play the son of Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba), who sacrificed his life in the original film "Pacific Rim."
Arjona has just recently closed a deal with Legendary Pictures to also join the cast of "Pacific Rim 2," as Deadline reported. She will play in an undisclosed role. Other cast members joining her include Chinese actress Jing Tian, "The Longest Ride" star Scott Eastwood, and "Counting to 1000" alum Cailee Spaeny.
The first "Pacific Rim" that del Toro directed was set in the near future. The Earth is at war with the monsters Kaiju that emerged from an inter-dimensional portal at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. The original film grossed $411 million at the worldwide box office, starred Charlie Hunnam, Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Robert Kazinsky, and Charlie Day.
The producers of "Pacific Rim 2" include del Toro, Femi Oguns, Jon Jashni, Thomas Tull, and Mary Parent alongside Boyega and Femi Oguns under their Upper Room Productions banner. Cale Boyter will serve as the executive producer. The production is eyeing to start filming this November in Australia and a portion in China.
"Pacific Rim 2" will be released by Universal Studios in theaters on Feb. 23, 2018.
Watch the video of "Pacific Rim 2" release date announced: