Not even a week ago, the news broke out that Pacific Rim 2 (reportedly called Pacific Rim: Maelstrom) was put on hold, after being already delayed with about 2 years. Originally scheduled for a 2015 release date, the sequel was then moved back to August 2017.

Now, IGN reports that Legendary has put it on hold - indefinitely. The reason is quite simple: just like always in this industry, it is all about the money. The first Pacific Rim movie had a budget of about $190 million (without the marketing costs) and made about $410 million worldwide. Which is a bit too low - actually, it is very low.

Furthermore, we can add that the first movie didn't do so well with the critics either. The ratings were, generally, favorable, but it still didn't break any records.

A blow for Guillermo del Toro

This could come as a blow for Guillermo del Toro, who already mapped all the three episodes of the trilogy - and this would be the second time that one of his franchises has been put on hold (the other one being, obviously, Hellboy).

But we do understand why the studio isn't so keen on backing up another big-budget movie for del Toro. Sure enough, Pacific Rim (just like any other movie shot by this director) featured a fantastic world, with creatures having awesome designs (and this is an understatement).

But del Toro's movies have never done too well at the box-office, despite of the imagination which fueled them. His movies never broke any records - except for Pan's Labyrinth, who made $83 million on a budget of $19 million, his movies were modest successes at best. And, over the years, they started costing more and more.

Why would Legendary Pictures want to back him up? Just because he has fans who don't actually go to the movies?

But what does the director have to say?

Pacific Rim 2 - still happening, according to the director

But, as soon as this news broke out, the director came and said that Pacific Rim 2 is still happening. With the shooting still programed to begin sometime in 2016, del Toro says that the fans will get to see the continuation of 2013's monster extravaganza movie.

Furthermore, he even said that the production will begin this November - however, they still haven't delivered the script and they still haven't decided what budget the sequel needs. As far as the latter is concerned, we can bet that the FX will require a bit more money than 2013's movie"¦

So what can we make of this?

Well, check out the next page for another reason why Pacific Rim 2 may not happen!

Too many franchises for Universal

While Legendary Pictures produced the first film, Warner Bros distributed it - it won't happen for Pacific Rim 2, because the two studios have a different kind of deal right now. Instead, Legendary made another deal, this time with Universal - this was back in 2014, when the latter studio lacked high-profile movies.

But this year Universal scored big, with Jurassic World, Furious 7, Minions, and even Fifty Shades of Grey - next year, it will be Warcraft, Bourne 5, Huntsman and maybe others. So Universal doesn't really need Pacific Rim any longer - in fewer words, it has too many franchises to juggle with.

And these are indeed successful franchises, so there is no need to risk, say, $200 million on a Pacific Rim sequel that may or may not turn in a profit.

This is the reality - and this wouldn't be the first time when a studio decides against a sequel because of the same reason. For example, Disney did it, when they dropped the Tron franchise.

But what do we say? Do we need a sequel for Pacific Rim?

Yes and no

Pacific Rim was, without a doubt, a spectacle - but it did lack some very important things, such as good actors and good lines. Furthermore, in an age in which everything is recycled or everything is a sequel, it brought to the table something new, something which was much more original than anything seen on the silver screens. And for that we thank del Toro, who always struggles to create something interesting for us.

So we do need a Pacific Rim sequel, because it was obvious from the start that this was intended to be a franchise - leaving aside the huge budget (which is, usually, invested in movies with franchise potential), the story didn't exactly end. Other portals can still be opened, we haven't seen what happens next between the main heroes, and so on.

But, at the same time, we don't really need it - as said, Pacific Rim wasn't exactly good as far as acting and writing are concerned. It was a low offering from this point of view, being a movie intended for the inner boy in a grown-up. We have plenty of movies of this kind.

But there is another reason why we need it - check out the next page!

Hellboy III

As del Toro said, Hellboy III will be made if Pacific Rim 2 proves to be a success. It cannot be if it isn't made, right?

But, hey, if it isn't made, what if del Toro takes on the Justice League Dark, a project dropped in order to make this sequel?