The Pacific Rim franchise is surprisingly expansive with multiple movies, a TV show, graphic novels, and more, so Pacific Rim 3 has always been ᴀssumed to be a possibility. When Guillermo del Toro first premiered Pacific Rim in 2013, it was not immediately hailed as a success in the United States, arguably underperforming at the US box office before becoming a global hit, earning $400 million globally while barely crossing $100 million domestically (via Forbes). Those global receipts ended up a bellwether for the belated appreciation and success the film would have.

Since that first movie, which centers on giant robots fighting giant monsters sent to Earth by modestly sized aliens, there has been one feature film sequel, Pacific Rim Uprising; a Netflix TV series, Pacific Rim: The Black; and plenty of video game, novelizations, and graphic novel adaptations that explore the world of Pacific Rim. While it’s all interesting, it’s the Pacific Rim feature films that are the tentpoles holding up the franchise and that’s why any rumors about Pacific Rim 3 are met with excitement. Unfortunately, rumors are exactly what they are.

Why There Will Not Be A Pacific Rim 3

No One In Production Has Spoken About The Sequel And Guillermo Del Toro Wouldn’t Direct

Despite there being plenty of story to mine in the Pacific Rim universe, there has been no positive news about Pacific Rim 3. The studio has yet to comment on anything regarding a Pacific Rim sequel to Uprising, but Legendary Pictures has its hands full with its Monsterverse movies and shows that don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon and which are clearly satiating the appeтιтe fans have for mᴀssive creatures slugging one another in the face.

Only Guillermo del Toro has commented on his thoughts about Pacific Rim 3, and the director has made his feelings perfectly clear. He said in an X comment that he would personally love to see his Jaegers go up against the monsters in the Legendary universe. However, he made it clear that he would not be the one to bring the franchises together,

“Talking only as a fan BTW – NO plans to return.”

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With no one seemingly interested on the production and directing side, it’s unlikely that Pacific Rim 3 will be coming to theaters or streaming anytime soon.

The Cast Would Return If A Sequel Is Ever Made

Charlie Hunnam Wants To Work With Guillermo Del Toro Again

While Guillermo del Toro doesn’t appear to have any interest in returning to the Pacific Rim franchise, the star of the first movie, Charlie Hunnam, who plays Raleigh Becket, has said that he would be willing to do Pacific Rim 3 if del Toro invited him. He said in his interview with Inverse, in response to the question, “Would you ever do a ‘Pacific Rim 3’ if you had the chance?“,

“I would do anything that Guillermo was doing. If Guillermo invites me to do ‘Pacific Rim 3’, I’ll be there or anything else he wants me to do.”

Hunnam is the only actor to mention he would be willing to return for Pacific Rim 3, and even his comments hint that he doesn’t find the likelihood of the film high. When asked about Pacific Rim 3, he’s clearly more interested in the idea of working with del Toro again. The project is an afterthought. It seems from this interview that Hunnam has not put a lot of thought into appearing in a Pacific Rim sequel and would appear in it, almost with bemusement, just for the chance to work with del Toro again.

Charlie Hunnam clearly holds his partnership with Guillermo del Toro in high regard, and he’s starred in two of the gothic horror director’s movies: Pacific Rim and Crimson Peak. If Pacific Rim 3 does start gaining traction, it could be the perfect opportunity for the director and actor to reunite.

Multiple Fan-Made Trailers Have Caused Confusion

These Trailers Combine Footage From Other Monster Movies

One of the reasons Pacific Rim 3 is even being talked about in serious terms is because there have been numerous fan trailers made over the years, supposedly advertising for the upcoming Pacific Rim sequel. These trailers can be found with a simple Google search and these searches also lead to plenty of message boards filled with people asking if the trailers are real, then grumbling once they learn they are fake. Whether it’s Pacific Rim 3: Apocalypse or Pacific Rim 3: End of War, these movies don’t exist, and neither do their trailers.

These fake trailers generally combine scenes from the first Pacific Rim and Pacific Rim Uprising along with тιтle cards and music to give the impression of an all-new movie. Some of these trailers even use scenes from other underwater horror and monster movies, like Underwater and The Meg, as a way to make it look like new footage. It’s not always easy to tell a fake trailer, particularly one pitched as a teaser, but if over half the footage is old, it’s a pretty good bet that the trailer is a fake one.

Pacific Rim Is Returning In Comic Form, Thanks To Kickstarter

Pacific Rim: Final Breach Is Set After The Films

Along with the TV show and movies, there are also five Pacific Rim graphic novels. Pacific Rim: Tales From Year Zero, Pacific Rim: Tales From the Drift, Pacific Rim: Blackout, Pacific Rim Aftermath, and Pacific Rim: Amara all take place at different points in the Pacific Rim timeline, offering up the events leading up to the films or showing what was going on in other parts of the world at the same time as the events occurring during Pacific Rim and Pacific Rim Uprising. There is no continuity between the books, so readers can jump in at any point.

Now, another graphic novel is reportedly on its way. Legendary Comics, a subsidiary of Legendary Entertainment, is responsible for publishing the Pacific Rim graphic novels and on August 5, 2024, they began a Kickstarter for a new project: Pacific Rim: Final Breach. Final Breach will be a three-volume graphic novel set after the events of the first two movies. In the books, Jake Pentecost and Hermann Gottlieb conceive of a last-ditch effort to close the trans-dimensional rift and end the Kaiju encroachments forever.

To do so, they’ll need the help of the famous Jaeger pilot, Raleigh Becket, who disappeared after the events of the first Pacific Rim. The Kickstarter ended up being fully funded by August 13, with 1564 backers pledging $200,202 towards the project, earning special, limited-edition rewards while they did so. The books will be written by Joshua Fialkov (Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender) with art by EJ Su (Transformers). The first volume is tentatively scheduled for October 2025. It may not be Pacific Rim 3, but at least the story will be completed.