The “Pacific Rim” franchise isn’t dead yet. Variety reports that Amazon MGM Studios is now involved in the development of Legendary Television‘s live-action prequel series based on the two 2010s films. No word on an official synopsis yet, but if the show does well on Prime Video, then more movies may be in the cards.
READ MORE: ‘Pacific Rim’ Prequel Series Is In Development From The Writer Of ‘Arrival’
Eric Heisserer serves as writer and executive producer on the series, which he’ll handle via his Chronology banner. The “Pacific Rim” show is Chronology’s first project that’s part of its first-look TV deal with Legendary. The “Arrival” screenwriter’s only over TV credit is “Shadow And Bone,” which ran from 2021-2023 on Netflix.
But is there still an audience for “Pacific Rim”? Guillermo del Toro‘s 2013 original was a big hit in 2013, taking in over $400 million globally. But the 2018 sequel “Pacific Rim Uprising” wasn’t quite as popular. Since then, there’s only been Netflix’s anime series “Pacific Rim: The Black,” but the franchise also includes comic books, novels, and toys, among other products.
For those not familiar with the sci-fi series, “Pacific Rim” centers on an inter-dimensional rift at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean that allows huge monsters (kaijus) to cross over onto Earth and attack humanity. To protect civilization, humans develop giant fighting robots called Jaegers to combat the monsters.
In “Pacific Rim,” an inter-dimensional rift opens at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, allowing massive monsters (a.k.a kaijus) to enter our world and begin attacking humanity. In response, humans begin constructing giant fighting robots called Jaegers. The prequel series may tackle what caused the rift to open up beneath the Pacific in the first place, but there’s no official word on that yet.
Beyond “Shadow and Bone” and “Arrival,” for which he won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, Heisserer’s other work includes “Bird Box,” “Blood Shot,” and the 2010 remake of “A Nightmare On Elm Street.” He also wrote and directed “Hours” in 2013, a thriller starring the late Paul Walker.
The “Pacific Rim” TV series is the latest collaboration announced between Legendary and Amazon MGM recently. The two studios are also developing “Murdle,” a series based on G.T. Karber‘s murder mystery puzzles.
Don’t expect “Pacific Rim” to hit Prime Video until at least late 2026.
