The sequel to Guillermo del Toro's 2013 science fiction machine versus monster movie production is finally on going. "Pacific Rim 2" included "Star Wars" actor John Boyega as its lead, replacing Charlie Hunnam in the process.

On November 10, the director of the film, Steven DeKnight, confirmed its start date of filming which happened in Sydney, Australia.

While it was not confirmed if Hunnam will be appearing on the sequel, reports claimed that he will still be able to star on the film but only with a limited role.

It was reported earlier that a lot of the cast from the first film will be coming back, but Hunnam is still not confirmed. During an interview with MTV, the actor said his busy schedule is keeping him from joining the movie's production.

"There was definitely an incarnation of this sequel that involved me, but there was a changing of ownership, of the studio itself, Legendary, and I think that because they partnered up with a Chinese company - and the film was so successful there - there was a real agenda to get that film into production as soon as possible," Hunnam said. "And I was already booked up for a significant period of the time they were going to need."

Cailee Spaeny, Jing Tian, Levi Meaden, and Ivanna Sakhno have all been cast, but their roles haven't been announced and it's also unclear if Rinko Kikuchi has been cast.

To recall, "Pacific Rim" was set in the near future with Earth at war with monsters that emerged from an interdimensional portal at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. The movie went on to gross more than $410 million at the worldwide box office and starred Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi, Idris Elba, Charlie Day and Robert Kazinsky.

"Pacific Rim 2: Maelstrom" is scheduled to hit theaters on Feb. 23, 2018.