Pacific Rim 2 Gets Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day and Karl Urban?

Back when originalPacific RimdirectorGuillermo del Torowas set to tacklePacific Rim 2, the filmmaker stated that all of the surviving characters from the first movie would return for the sequel. A lot has changed between now and then, with the director stepping down from the director’s chair, while remaining aboard as a producer.Steven S. DeKnighttook over as the director, while it was confirmed this summer thatCharlie Hunnamwill not be returning as Jaeger pilot Raleigh Beckett. A set photo has now surfaced that suggests a number of other originalPacific Rimstars are coming back for this sequel.

The photo was released on Instagram by cinematographerDan Mindel, which shows the Alexa XT camera that he was shooting with on that day. What many fans also noticed is that, attached to the camera, appears to be a cast list featuringScott EastwoodandCailee Spaeny, along with a number of actors who have not yet been announced or confirmed. These actors include originalPacific RimstarsRinko Kikuchi(Mako Mori),Charlie Day(Newton Geisler) andBurn Gorman(Gottlieb) and a previously-unannounced new cast memberKarl Urban. This is the first we’ve heard about any of these actors joining the cast.

Unfortunately, this image doesn’t feature any of these actors actually working on the set, but it comes just a few days after another set photo featuringJohn Boyegasurfaced. This project actually reunitesJohn BoyegawithDan Mindel, since he served as the cinematographer on the 2015 blockbusterStar Wars: The Force Awakens, which featuredJohn Boyegain a breakout role as Finn. InPacific Rim: Uprising,John Boyegais playing the son ofIdris Elba’s Stacker Pentecost from the originalPacific Rim, which hit theaters back in 2013. Very little is known about the plot at this time, but this sequel almost never moved forward in the first place.

BeforeSteven S. DeKnightsigned on to direct in February 2016, the sequel was delayed indefinitely, but there was still hope that it may happen, thanks to a studio merger. Chinese investment group Dalian Wanda Group acquired a majority stake in Legendary Entertainment, which helped pave the way for this sequel.Pacific Rimonly earned $101 million at the domestic box office, but it earned $411 million worldwide, with $111.9 million coming from China alone, which was by far the biggest gross from any country worldwide. It certainly remains to be seen whether or not the follow-up will be a huge hit in China once again, or if it will be more embraced by U.S. audiences this time around.

Legendary has issued a February 23, 2018release dateforPacific Rim: Uprising, which was once believed to be titledPacific Rim: Maelstrom. As of now, this sequel has the release date all to itself, butPacific Rim: Uprisingwill still be sandwiched between a few highly-anticipated films. Opening a week before it will be Marvel’s stand-alone superhero adventureBlack Panther, starringChadwick Boseman, and Universal’s animated filmLarrikins. On March 2, Warner Bros. will release the shark thrillerMeg, while 20th Century Fox will unleash an untitled Marvel adaptation. Take a look at thePacific Rim: Uprisingset photo below.