Creator of the hit Starz series Spartacus, Steven S. DeKnight, has just been brought on board to direct Legendary Pictures’ Pacific Rim: Maelstrom, the upcoming sequel to Guillermo del Toro and Travis Beacham’s 2013 blockbuster.

This will mark DeKnight’s feature film directorial debut, although the man has been very active in the television medium since the ’90s, producing, directing, and writing for hit shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville, and most recently the Netflix series Daredevil.

The script for the upcoming film has been penned by Jon Spaihts (Prometheus), but isn’t planned for release until sometime after 2017. Actors Charlie Hunnam and Ron Perlman are expected to return to the franchise. Other films in the Legendary Pictures pipeline include the Warcraft (due in theaters this summer) and The Great Wall, an epic from director Zhang Yimou (Hero) that is set to star Matt Damon (The Martian) and Willem Dafoe (John Wick).

We will stay tuned to the latest developments revolving Pacific Rim: Maestrom.