While Guillermo del Toro has shown nothing but interest in developing a sequel to his massive monster-vs-robot science-fiction film Pacific Rim, the project seemed to have come to a halt, but Universal Studios says Pacific Rim 2 is not completely dead. Entertainment Weekly reports that the studio plucked the highly anticipated Pacific Rim 2 from its release calendar, having just made the announcement on Tuesday. When the sequel originally had a set release date, it was going to open in theaters on August 4, 2017, but it appears that release date will no longer be possible with the delay of the project.
Even though the studio has made the changes to its release date, Universal is still confident that the film will eventually be made, as part of its partnership with Legendary Entertainment. Universal issued a statement this week saying that they, along with Legendary, are still committed to producing the mega-sequel and having it “be the vanguard, fully-immersive experience that the franchise deserves.” The production as well as the release date of Pacific Rim 2 have been delayed and put on hold in order to fully exceed the accomplishments and success of its predecessor, according to the studio. Even del Toro, who wrote and co-directed the first film, has not shown any sign of fatigue or worry with the franchise.
These statements coming from the studio seem to be in stark contrast to a recent Hollywood Reporter article, which claimed that Legendary Pictures’ efforts to move its Kong: Skull Island project from Universal to Warner Bros. – the latter of which currently holds the sequel rights to Legendary’s 2014 Godzilla film – seemingly derailing Pacific Rim 2 as a result. It appears that the behind-the-scenes production of Godzilla or King Kong franchise did not get in the way of the Pacific Rim series. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not gone. We’re still on it,” del Toro says.
Pacific Rim opened in the summer of 2013, with a opening weekend box office take of $37,285,325. During its 14 week run in the theater, it earned a worldwide total of $411,002,906. The film’s narrative follows a former pilot (played by Charlie Hunham) and a trainee whom are are both paired up together to pilot massive robots, called Jaegers, in their final effort to save the world from an impending apocalypse.