Last month saw some new developments in the status of Pacific Rim 2, though probably not the kind of developments that fans were hoping for. The sequel to Guillermo del Toro's 2013 action sci-fi movie about giant mechs fighting giant monsters has been pushed back indefinitely from its planned 2017 release date, with Universal and Legendary stating that the cause for the delay is to ensure that Pacific Rim 2 is "the vanguard, fully-immersive experience that the franchise deserves."

As far as PR-speak goes, that doesn't sound too doom-laden, but Pacific Rim's middling performance at the box office means that a sequel has never been a sure thing. While the first movie more than broke even in theaters, with home video and merchandise sales helping it become a financial success, a sequel is obviously not as high a priority for Legendary as following up heavy-hitters like Godzilla and Jurassic World. Nonetheless, del Toro has remained enthusiastic about the project, and the director is even starting to entertain some new casting fantasies.

Del Toro revealed on Twitter today that he has had lunch with Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams, and was impressed enough to promise that, "if [Pacific Rim 2] happens, that girl is getting a Jaeger." For those unfamiliar with the movie's jargon, Jaegers are the enormous mechs that humanity designed to battle inter-dimensional invaders, and each Jaeger has two pilots who operate the machine in perfect unison using a mind-meld technique called 'Drifting'.

Williams has garnered widespread popularity thanks to her breakout role as young spitfire Arya Stark on Game of Thrones. She's also the top choice to play the female lead in Sony's adaptation of video game The Last of Us, and this month she can be seen in upcoming episodes of Doctor Who. She's a rising star who could definitely help generate interest in a Pacific Rim sequel.

Before anyone gets too excited, however, it's important to keep in mind that a spontaneous Twitter post isn't the same thing as a casting announcement or even a formal offer, and that del Toro's choice of words (he uses "if" instead of "when" to refer to the possibility of Pacific Rim 2 getting made) isn't hugely inspiring. Still, the thought of Arya Stark co-piloting a Jaeger sounds like it was plucked straight from fan fiction - in a good way.

Plot details for Pacific Rim 2 are still misty, though del Toro has said that all of the characters who survived the first movie will be returning. There were a lot of Jaegers lost and a lot of Jaeger pilots lost with them in Pacific Rim, which means that the Jaeger Program is going to need to do some recruiting. Let us know in the comments which actor you think should be Williams' co-pilot if del Toro gets his wish.

We'll keep you updated on Pacific Rim 2 as development continues.

Source: Guillermo del Toro