Pacific Rim: Uprising is well into the production phase with director Steven S. DeKnight.

In addition to DeKnight replacing Guillermo del Toro in the directors chair, much of the cast
for the sequel is new to the series. One of the few returning Pacific Rim cast members is
Charlie Day, who recently praised the work of DeKnight and the new cast , led by Star
Wars: The Force Awakens star John Boyega.

Taking on a new starring role in Pacific Rim: Uprising, Boyega will portray Jake Pentecost,
the son of Idris Elbas Pacific Rim character Stacker Pentecost. Boyega recently enjoyed a
surprise 25th birthday celebration with the rest of the Pacific Rim: Uprising cast, which also
includes newcomers like Scott Eastwood and Adria Arjona. Now, Boyega can put his Pacific
Rim experience in the rearview mirror.

Boyega tweeted a photo of himself on Tuesday to confirm that hes wrapped filming his
scenes for the sequel. Its been an amazing six months! Thats a wrap on
#PacificRimUprising, his tweet reads. Boyegas math may be a little off, though he posted
to his Instagram account that he had arrived for his first day of filming on Nov. 9, 2016,
which would make his total time on set less than four months.

It's been an amazing six months ! That's a wrap

on #PacificRimUprising pic.twitter.com/p53f78skho

John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) March 28, 2017

Not much is known about Boyegas character at this point, beyond the fact that he plays the
son of Stacker Pentecost and that set photos reveal him to be another Jaegar pilot. Another
set photo posted by Boyega shows the actor inside what appears to be his Jaegar suit,
which may have been revealed in recent Pacific Rim: Uprising concept art .

Based on Boyegas star-making turn as Finn in The Force Awakens, he has a chance to
be Pacific Rim: Uprisings most compelling lead character. He showed the kind of charisma
and sense of humor thats to be expected from leading men with his performance in The
Force Awakens, which will likely continue in the eighth Star Wars installment, The Last
Jedi . His new role in the Pacific Rim franchise has a good chance to be a strong follow-up
to Star Wars for the young star.

Theres little doubt about Boyegas ability to deliver a magnetic performance as Jake
Pentecost in Pacific Rim: Uprising, but that doesnt mean that the rest of the film would be
as memorable as Boyega has a chance to be. The first Pacific Rim did well at the box office,
but garnered mixed reviews and didnt have as much success in North America as it did in
international markets. Still, Boyegas newfound popularity from the Star Wars franchise
could change that when Pacific Rim: Uprising hits theaters.

Source: John Boyega