PACIFIC RIM was a film I was for sure wouldn't get a sequel. It was too niche for how expensive it was, and the critical and financial take wasn't anything to write home about. In fact, although there were many things I did indeed love about it (using a cruise ship as a baseball bat, rocket-punches, deus-ex anime sword), I also thought it was lacking. Too many fights in the dark and in the water, not enough attention to the other Jaegers, and worst of all a bland-as-fuck whitebread and mayo protagonist. Even Guillermo del Toro's usual flourishes weren't enough to make it above mediocre.
Having said all that, I am cautiously optimistic about the second film. Hopefully it will keep what made the original engaging, while tossing the things that brought it down. Anyway, here's a new poster for PACIFIC RIM UPRISING:
That's John Boyega playing Jake Pentecost, the son Idris Elba's Stacker Pentecost, one of the other bright spots of the original film. Which is good news to me, because no matter how good he was on SONS OF ANARCHY, I don't see Charlie Hunnam as much of a leading man, while Boyega has charisma and talent to spare! Hopefully there's less fights in the ocean, more emphasis on the other Jaegers, and more using things that shouldn't be baseball bats as baseball bats. Just a thought.
Meanwhile, PACIFIC RIM UPRISING will rocket-punch theaters March 23rd, 2018.