Pacific Rim Uprising Director Confirms Shoutout to [SPOILER]

Warning: SPOILERS For Pacific Rim Uprising ahead

–

Pacific Rim Uprising director Steven S. DeKnight has confirmed the film contains an easter egg reference to a character from the original. While Uprising is a sequel to the first film, it also acts as something of a soft reboot by introducing a new group of lead characters fronted by John Boyega’s Jake Pentecost. The original script was set to be more of a direct follow-up, with Charlie Hunnam’s character and most of the cast from the first movie returning, but rewrites and scheduling conflicts morphed the sequel into something else.

Guillermo del Toro was also set to direct but eventually opted out for The Shape Of Water; which in hindsight, was an excellent decision. Steven S. DeKnight took over and managed to craft a fun sequel that adds some intriguing new twists of its own. The film is pulling in solid box office figures thus far and managed to end Black Panther’s epic five-week reign at the number one spot in the U.S.

Related: Pacific Rim 3 Would Explore The Precursors’ Motivations

Ron Perlman played the memorable supporting character of black market dealer Hannibal Chau in Pacific Rim, but due to scheduling, he was unable to return for a planned cameo in Uprising. That’s not to say he doesn’t get name-dropped, with DeKnight confirming on his Twitter profile (via CinemaBlend) that Chau is mentioned as somebody Jake has crossed in the past during an early scene. The reference goes by so quick, however, that it’s easy to miss on first viewing.

In addition to Hannibal Chau, an early draft had roles for Max Martini’s Herc and Cliff Collins Jr’s Tendo, but the characters had to be cut in the end. Name dropping Chau and giving him a past with Jake is a nice piece of world building, and leaves the door wide open for the character to appear in a later movie.

With Pacific Rim Uprising taking in healthy numbers, talk of a third movie has already begun. DeKnight has stated he has an idea for Pacific Rim 3 that would expand the universe and allow a crossover with Godzilla and King Kong – should Legendary want it – and that the movie would explain the motives of the Precursors. Time will tell if the movie does enough business to warrant more adventures, but so far fans appear to be responding positively to the sequel.

More: Pacific Rim Uprising Initially Had Many More Cameos