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THR: Pacific Rim Sequel Halted Indefinitely

The Hollywood Reporter magazine reported on Tuesday that the sequel to Legendary Pictures and Guillermo del Toro's live-action Pacific Rim film has been "halted indefinitely." The sequel was slated for August 2017 after a delay pushed it back from April 2017.

Warner Brothers had distributed the first film in 2013, but Legendary ended its co-financing and co-producing deal at the end of that year. Legendary Pictures now has a five-year production and financing with Universal Pictures, but sources report trouble with the business relationship.

Earlier this week Universal allowed Legendary Pictures to move its Kong: Skull Island prequel movie from Universal Studios to Warner Bros. The film has a budget of more than US$125 million, but Warner Bros. is including the film in a three-picture deal that also includes Legendary and Warner Bros.' planned sequel to 2014's Godzilla film, as well as a crossover film that will feature both monsters.

Legendary licensed the Godzilla film rights, and produced Gareth Edwards' 2014 Godzilla film, which opened in the United States in May 2014, and earned over US$500 million worldwide. Warner Bros. retains the right to participate in the sequel.

TOHO already made a King Kong vs. Godzilla film in 1962 as the third installment in the Godzilla film series. Universal released the movie in the United States in 1963. TOHO is now shooting its own new Godzilla film for release next summer. Evangelion director Hideaki Anno is serving as chief director and writer, and Shinji Higuchi (Japan Sinks, Nobō no Shiro, live-action Attack on Titan films) is directing the new film and serving as special effect director.