“Spartacus” star Nick Tarabay has joined the cast of “Pacific Rim 2,” which began shooting this week in Australia.

Steven S. DeKnight is directing based on the world created by Guillermo del Toro and Travis Beacham in the 2013 original. DeKnight was the showrunner on Starz’ “Spartacus.”

John Boyega, Scott Eastwood and Jing Tian are starring in “Pacific Rim 2.” Thomas Tull, Mary Parent, Jon Jashni, and del Toro will produce the action adventure film along with Boyega and Femi Oguns under their Upper Room Productions shingle. Cale Boyter will serve as the film’s executive producer.

The film will be released Feb. 23, 2018 by Universal Pictures around the world with the exception of China.

“Pacific Rim” was set in the near future with Earth at war with monsters that emerged from an interdimensional portal at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. The movie went on to gross more than $410 million at the worldwide box office and starred Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, Idris Elba, Charlie Day and Robert Kazinsky.

Plot details are vague on the sequel other than Boyega playing the son of Elba’s character, who sacrificed his life in the original film.

Tarabay was cast earlier this year in Syfy’s “The Expanse” in a major recurring role. Tarabay’s credits include “Castle,” “Longmire,” “Person of Interest,” “Arrow” and “Star Trek Into Darkness.”

Tarabay is represented by Abrams Artists Agency, and Luber Roklin Entertainment.

Boyega posted an Instagram photo this week of the script, with the title “Pacific Rim: Maelstrom” on the the first day of shooting in Australia.