Steven S. DeKnight replaces del Toro as director of Pacific Rim 2

Last Updated on July 21, 2021

Universal Pictures has dropped some rather surprising news about PACIFIC RIM 2, and it's not necessarily the fact that the project is actually moving forward again – PACIFIC RIM director Guillermo del Toro had told us not to lose hope for the sequel, no matter how dire the situation looked after the studio removed it from their 2017 release schedule. The surprising thing here is that del Toro has decided to vacate the director's seat, taking a step back into a producorial role.

Replacing del Toro as director is Steven S. DeKnight, the man who created the Starz television version of Spartacus and served as showrunner on the first season of Marvel/Netflix's Daredevil. DeKnight's previous directing credits include three episodes of Angel, two of Smallville, and one each of Dollhouse and Daredevil.

del Toro hasn't given a reason for why he has decided not to direct PACIFIC RIM 2, but did celebrate DeKnight's hiring on Twitter: 

Met w DeKnight and we are all so happy with our choice to take Pac Rim 2to where we know it can go!!

Now Pac Rim is a known property and we can expand big!

More news soon! But- as I said a few weeks ago:  this is happening and the ideas we have are great!! Buenas noches from Toronto…

Dream of Kaijus and Mecha!!

The sequel's script has been written by Jon Spaihts (THE DARKEST HOUR, PROMETHEUS). 

Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, and Mary Parent are producing the film with del Toro. Jillian Share will serve as executive producer.

PACIFIC RIM's Rinko Kikuchi