Legendary Pictures has tapped John Boyega as the lead role for the second installment of its Pacific Rim franchise. The film, which is targeting a 4th Quarter start date is rapidly taking shape as a key project on Legendary’s upcoming slate with Boyega playing the son of Idris Elba’s character from the original film.
The project will be directed by Steven S. DeKnight based on the world created by Guillermo del Toro and Travis Beacham. Thomas Tull, Mary Parent, Jon Jashni, and del Toro will produce the action adventure film along with Boyega and Femi Oguns under their Upper Room Productions shingle. Cale Boyter will serve as the film’s executive producer.
“It is undeniable that with all his talent and natural charm, John stands out amongst today’s generation of young leading men,” said Mary Parent, Legendary’s Vice Chairman of Worldwide Production.
“I am very proud and happy to welcome John into a fantastic sandbox. The ‘Pacific Rim’ universe will be reinforced with him as a leading man as it continues to be a multicultural, multi-layered world. ‘The World saving the world’ was our goal and I couldn’t think of a better man for the job,” stated del Toro.
John Boyega’s previous credits include Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Attack the Block. His upcoming projects include Star Wars: Episode VIII, The Circle opposite Tom Hanks and Emma Watson, Imperial Dreams, Watership Down alongside James McAvoy and Sir Ben Kingsley, and he will star on stage next year in “Woyzeck” at The Old Vic. He is represented by WME and Identity Agency Group in the UK and Hansen Jacobson.
The film will be distributed by Universal Pictures around the world with the exception of China.
