The popular Pacific Rim franchise is growing! That hasn’t stopped a brand new adaptation from coming down the pipeline — a live-action series Amazon Prime Video has been developing. This announcement is the culmination of an exclusive agreement with Legendary Television and Amazon MGM Studios. The series focuses in on the bombastic, city-wrecking clashes between the earth’s biggest foes, the mighty monsters known as Kaiju. It features the big, lumbering mechs, called Jaegers, that mankind has created to stop these monster-like plagues.
The original Pacific Rim movie opened in 2013. Directed by visionary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, it won audiences everywhere with its dazzling sight and equally exciting narrative. The movie redefined the landscape of action films, taking audiences on a journey where Kaiju came up from the ocean depths to conquer our coastlines. In reply, humanity constructed great piloted machines called Jaegers—enormous robots meant to escort the gargantuan beasts. These colossal constructs demand two pilots who are connected through a neural bridge to function properly. The original film went on to gross a staggering $411 million globally. That success reestablished its credentials as a heavyweight of the science fiction film genre.
Despite its success, the sequel, Pacific Rim: Uprising, released in 2018, did not achieve the same level of acclaim. It was a big step for diversity – with stars like John Boyega and Scott Eastwood. It fizzled to only $290 million worldwide, leaving the franchise’s future in doubt.
The franchise’s story doesn’t have to stop there, as the narrative has continued to expand outside of movies. It has expanded into various forms of media, including comic books, novels, video games, and even an animated series titled Pacific Rim: The Black. This wide range shows the franchise’s continued popularity and engagement with the audience.
As for the new live-action series, Eric Heisserer will be adapting the first season, and will work as head writer and executive producer. Heisserer is best known for his recent work as showrunner on the Netflix adaptation of bestselling fantasy series Shadow and Bone. He became the show’s showrunner and executive producer. His participation is an immediate indication that they’re committed to providing a high-quality narrative experience that fans of the franchise will appreciate.
The premise of this creative series is Kaiju’s Continued Attack and the Human Spirit Necessary to Defeat these Colossal Enemies. According to Guillermo del Toro, the franchise’s core narrative is centered around humanity’s desperate fight for survival against overwhelming odds:
“Long ago, legions of monstrous creatures called Kaiju arose from the sea, bringing with them all-consuming war. To fight the Kaiju, mankind developed giant robots called Jaegers, designed to be piloted by two humans locked together in a neural bridge. However, even the Jaegers are not enough to defeat the Kaiju, and humanity is on the verge of defeat. Mankind’s last hope now lies with a washed-up ex-pilot, an untested trainee and an old, obsolete Jaeger.” – Guillermo del Toro
This surprising declaration points to the core conflict of the Pacific Rim mythos. It’s a testament to the amazing courage of humans when they are confronted by completely insurmountable odds.
So buckle up for this cool new live-action series! Fans should be on the lookout for a new interpretation of the Pacific Rim universe, while maintaining everything that made the first film so thrilling and exciting. As production progresses, we should hear more specifics about the cast and story. This is bound to intensify the fever pitch for diehard fans of the franchise!