*“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” star John Boyega has been cast in the sequel “Pacific Rim.”
He’ll play the lead character, the son of Idris Elba’s character from the original film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The plot for the sequel is being kept under wraps, but the film is set in a world where monster-fighting robot suits known as Jaegers are created to fight against monstrous sea creatures.
Steven S. DeKnight will direct the script based on the world created by Guillermo del Toro and Travis Beacham.
“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.
The first “Pacific Rim,” directed by del Toro, hit theaters in July 2013. The film starring Elba and Charlie Hunnam earned $411 million worldwide.
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.
Boyega’s upcoming projects include the Dave Eggers adaptation “The Circle” with Tom Hanks and Emma Watson, “Imperial Dreams” and “Watership Down “alongside James McAvoy and Sir Ben Kingsley.
