An interesting twist in the ongoing case of what’s happening with “Pacific Rim 2” revealed itself tonight. Former “Daredevil” showrunner Steven S. DeKnight is taking over directing duties on a project many believed to be dead.
READ MORE: Guillermo Del Toro To Direct ‘Fantastic Voyage’ Remake, ‘Pacific Rim 2’ Dead For Now
The announcement sheds some light on, or at least points to, some of the behind-the-scenes ongoings that director Guillermo del Toro was facing. “Pacific Rim 2” was originally set for a August 2017 release date, but Legendary and Universal pulled the plug on that date indefinitely and asked del Toro and his co-writer, Travis Beacham, to submit a new budget and script in the fall.
Things were looking bleak as del Toro’s “Crimson Peak” mostly flatlined at the box office and the filmmaker was looking for a non-tentpole blockbuster for his next film instead. Evidently Uni and Legendary were still intent on making the film, perhaps just not with its original director (one has to wonder what elements of the script have been compromised to get the budget down to the level that made the studios finally comfortable).
The current “Pacific Rim 2” script was written by Jon Spaihts ("Prometheus," "Doctor Strange") based on the characters created by Beacham and del Toro. “Pacific Rim 2” will be DeKnight’s feature-length directorial debut. During his television days, he cut his teeth directing episodes of "Dollhouse," "Smallville," "Angel" (shows of which he also produced), and the finale episode of "Daredevil." He showran “Daredevil” season one and “Spartacus” before this and most recently was one of the authors in the "Transformers" writing room. Del Toro has since signed on to direct a remake of "Fantastic Voyage" for producer James Cameron. [Deadline]
Update: Sounds like del Toro is still on board as a producer and content with the directing choice they made.
Met w DeKnight and we are all so happy with our choice to take Pac Rim 2to where we know it can go!!
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) February 24, 2016
Now Pac Rim is a known property and we can expand big!
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) February 24, 2016
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…
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) February 24, 2016
