Pacific Rim 2: Director Guillermo del Toro confirms that the film is not cancelled

Guillermo del Toro has shared an update (of sorts) about the production status of Pacific Rim 2, clearing rumours that the film has been shelved. Rumours about the fate of the sequel have been circulating for the past few months and lack of any official announcement – from Universal and Legendary Pictures – led fans to believe that the film might have been cancelled or put on hold.

But that's not the case. According to director Guillermo del Toro's latest tweet, he has confirmed that Pacific Rim 2 is still a go.

Pac Rim 2 cancelled? Don't believe everything you read. It's still going and I'll remain w it in one way or another!

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) January 11, 2016

The status of Pacific Rim 2 was uncertain for some time now; Universal scheduled the movie for a summer 2017 release last June, before removing it from the calendar altogether the following September. One reason for the uncertainty surrounding the project is the rumoured purchase of Legendary by Chinese company Wanda.

While Pacific Rim underperformed in many international markets, it was most successful in China, and future Chinese ownership of the movie might increase the likelihood of fast-tracking the sequel. (via The Hollywood Reporter)

In an earlier interview, del Toro talked about setting the stage for Pacific Rim 2, stating: "It's a few years after the first one. It's not an immediate follow-up. It is the world having been freed of Kaiju, what happens to the world after – what happens to the Jaeger technology once the Kaiju are not a threat. It's quite a jump."

Made on a reasonably big budget, Pacific Rim (2013) received a positive response by fans and critics and even though it was not a monster hit, the studio green-lit the sequel. Now it just remains to be seen when the film goes on floors.