ThePacific Rimsequelmay be delayed, but that hasn’t stopped directorGuillermo del Torofrom working on developing the follow-up, and now he’s found a fan-favoriteGame of Thronesactress he wants to add to the cast alongsideCharlie HunnamandRinko Kikuchi. Initially scheduled to begin production this fall, Universal Pictures recently pulledPacific Rim 2from its release schedule, stating that it is still very committed to making the movie, but wants to ensure that the creative team “can continue its efforts to exceed the amazing experience of the first film.” In light of this, del Toro said thathe’s continuing work on the screenplay, but may now tackle a smaller movie before heading into production onPacific Rim 2if and when it happens.
However, as development is ongoing, del Toro tweeted last night that he had lunch withMaisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark onGame of Thrones, and he’s now determined to put her in thePacific Rimsequel.
Williams quickly became a standout on the HBO fantasy series and the prospect of seeing her piloting her own Jaeger is glee-inducing. It’s unclear exactly when del Toro hopes to rampPacific Rim 2back up, but one hopes Universal is ready to give it the greenlight sometime next year—assuming the script and budget are to their liking, that is. When the initial report surfaced that the studiohad become more ambivalent about the follow-updue to tensions with Legendary Pictures CEOThomas Tull, it was unclear if it’d even be made at all. Studio language in a subsequent press release aimed to assuage those fears, but the fact remains thatPacific Rim 2does not have a greenlight and thus is not guaranteed to actually happen.
APacific Rimfollow-up wasn’t an easy “yes” from a studio standpoint, as the first movie just barely broke $100 million domestically but then grossed over $410 million worldwide. Legendary’s relationship with del Toro no doubt influenced Universal’s decision to put the movie into development, but as the latter studio has had a record-breaking 2015 with films likeJurassic WorldandPitch Perfect 2, it doesn’t necessarilyneedto carry on with thePacific Rimfranchise. Regardless, del Toro’s greatest accomplishment with that film was some incredible world building, so the notion of further exploring the world ofPacific Rimin a sequel is mighty enticing from a fan point of view. Especially if Maisie Williams is onboard.
