“There were a ton of crazy ideas for where it could go.” Pacific Rim sequel was supposed to look very different before the $290 million flop was created

by

It’s well-known that the sequel Pacific Rim: Uprising fell short of the high expectations set by fans of the science fiction series following Guillermo del Toro’s movie. Unlike the original, the world in Uprising appears less vibrant, the narrative is unclear about its purpose, and to make matters worse, Steven S. DeKnight’s film fails to establish a unique identity of its own.

1. The first science fiction film carries a melancholic mood due to its dark and somber atmosphere, reflecting the sense of despair that has enveloped the world. However, Del Toro’s movie offers a hopeful narrative about humanity’s ongoing struggle for a brighter future.

2. In contrast, the second science fiction film seems unclear about its intended message or purpose.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but feel disappointed about the outcome of Pacific Rim: Uprising. Although it managed to rake in $290 million at the box office, it didn’t quite make a profit given its production budget of $150 million. Consequently, many fans and critics view this sequel as a missed opportunity, maybe even one that could have been prevented if the original ideas for the second part of the series had materialized.

Travis Beacham, a co-writer of “Pacific Rim,” who collaborated with Guillermo del Toro on the project, shared insights about the concepts they developed for extending the storyline prior to the 2018 production being taken over by different filmmakers, in an interview with SlashFilm.

In our initial discussions with Guillermo, we expressed our excitement about numerous eccentric concepts regarding the storyline, given the potential directions it could take. Our shared vision was to create a film set beyond the rift, exploring this new environment and its unique characteristics. I’m not certain if plunging headfirst into that scenario would be feasible right away, but perhaps after a few films might be an ideal time. On a personal note, I’ve always been captivated by the idea of a prequel. While I generally find prequels less compelling in other works, I believed it would be thrilling to delve into the origins and witness the very first Jaegar-Kaiju battle. I wanted to uncover what that first fight would’ve entailed from its inception.

The two concepts deviated from the final outcome we saw, and it’s hard to determine which would have fared better than “Uprising.” However, enthusiasts of the franchise might have appreciated a continuation by the original filmmakers of “Pacific Rim,” as Guillermo del Toro was unable to oversee the sequel because he was tied up with another project, namely “The Shape of Water.

Read More

2025-05-13 13:52