By James White | Posted 30 Jun 2016

For a while, it looked like the potential Pacific Rim sequel would stay just that – potential. But now, with John Boyega already aboard, Legendary Pictures is starting to build the rest of the cast, and the company wants Scott Eastwood to join the roster.`

With Guillermo del Toro keeping the flame (albeit as producer of this one, not the man calling the shots), it has a director in Daredevil's Steven S. DeKnight, Boyega in the lead and now a date to take aim at.

Occasionally known as Pacific Rim: Maelstrom (though that's potentially just a working title,), nothing much has been revealed about the film's plot, aside from the fact that we can expect more monster-bashing and perhaps a deeper exploration of the creatures' realm.

Apparently 2018 is the current hot year for sequel dates. With Disney already announcing Wreck-It Ralph 2 for that year, the other news is that the Pacific sequel will bring the latest round of giant robot-vs-kaiju action to cinemas in February 2018.

While we don't yet know if the UK will get the film on the same day (though the original was a day and date release), at least now those who have been anticipating a follow-up have something to mark down in their Kaiju Of The Month calendars. Eastwood, meanwhile, has been on something of a big film run at the moment. He'll next be seen in Suicide Squad (out August 5) and is part of the sprawling ensemble for Fast 8, which lands on April 14 next year.