Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro has given us a nailed on release date for the sequel to his epic, Jaegers vs Kaiju blockbuster, Pacific Rim. Obviously we’re hoping it’ll be called something more imaginative that ‘Pacific Rim 2’.

Pacific RimGet ready for more Kaiju on April 7, 2017

BuzzFeed seem to be Del Toro’s point of call when it comes to releasing news on his burgeoning action franchise. He told the site back in June that a script for the  sequel was underway with screenwriter Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand) helping him write it. Today’s announcement also… announces that screenwriter Travis Beacham is also heavily involved. 

“The characters I love will return,” del Toro said in a statement. “Raleigh, Mako, Newt, Gottlieb and who knows, maybe even Hannibal Chau – but we are taking them into a fresh territory that will display amazing sights and battles. The first film set the stage and now we’re ready to have a blast.”

More: Is 'Pacific Rim 2' Really A Good Idea?

Del Toro also announced that an animated series set in the Pacific Rim world will be released. We don’t know when, we just know it’ll be some time before Pacific Rim 2 is released on April 7, 2017. Which is ages away, we’ve just realised. 

Legendary Pictures are really sticking with Del Toro with Pacific Rim. The Film didn’t exactly tear up the domestic box office, and failed to compete with the other big hitters of 2013. But it capitalised on a burgeoning international fanbase for Hollywood, with the global box comprising a massive 75% of its total gross. 

And with that behind it, not to mention an indication as to what worked and what didn’t from the critics (more massive robots beating monsters up, please), odds are Del Toro will be able to push on and create a mega franchise of his own.