John Boyega Cast As Lead In Pacific Rim 2Posted by Wilson Morales
June 6, 2016
Source: Deadline
Capitalizing on his fame from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, John Boyega has been cast in the lead role for Pacific Rim 2, Deadline reports.
Based on the world created by Guillermo del Toro and Travis Beacham, Steven S. DeKnight is directing the film, taking over fem del Toro, who helmed the original.
Boyega will play the son of the character played by Idris Elba, who played Stacker Pentecost in the first film. Universal will release the film worldwide, everywhere but China. The 2013 original grossed $411 million.
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 is 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 Parent.
Said del Toro: “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.”
Boyega, whose breakout came with Attack The Block, next stars with Tom Hanks and Emma Watson in The Circle, and follows The Force Awakens with Star Wars: Episode VIII, as well as the animated BBC miniseries Watership Down opposite James McAvoy and Ben Kingsley. Boyega will make his stage-starring debut on the West End in Woyzeck at The Old Vic, next year.
