MOVIE NEWS – The continuation of Guillermo Del Toro‘s 2013 sci-fi action movie has been without a confirmed release date since it was pulled from schedules in September last year. But producers at Legendary have now revealed that it will release in movie theaters on February 23, 2018.

In spite of the recent engagement of director Steven S. DeKnight and movie star John Boyega, this is the first official evidence from Legendary and distributors Universal that the film is still happening. As their statement announces:

“John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) leads the cast of PACIFIC RIM 2, the follow-up to 2013’s cinematic battle for global domination that took audiences to future Earth’s land, skies, and seas and introduced an entirely new kind of warfare. Steven S. DeKnight (Spartacus, Daredevil) directs the next chapter of the film that generated more than $400 million at the global box office, including a strong performance in China. The 3D epic adventure will be produced by returning PACIFIC RIM producers Thomas Tull, Guillermo del Toro, and Mary Parent. Boyega joins the production team alongside Femi Oguns.”

While the first movie was a huge success in China, its domestic box office return was more lackluster, making just $101.8 million in the US.

In January, Legendary Pictures was bought by Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group, for a massive $3.5 billion. Pacific Rim opened with the sixth biggest gross ever for a Hollywood movie in China, and ultimately earned more than a third of its entire international gross there.

PACIFIC RIM II on its way. I am on board only as producer, co-story but we all like/trust Steven S. DeKnight. Stay tuned for cast news.

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) July 2, 2016