'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' star John Boyega gets lead in 'Pacific Rim'

HOLLYWOOD, June 7 (UPI) -- John Boyega, star of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, has been named for the lead role in the second installment of Legendary Pictures' Pacific Rim franchise.

Pacific Rim: Maelstrom, directed by Steven S. DeKnight, will begin production in the fourth quarter of this year, Deadline reported. It is based on a world created by Guillermo del Toro and Travis Beacham.

The 24-year-old Boyega confirmed his roll in Pacific Rim on Twitter. He said he was "so happy" to come on board as both an actor and a producer.

He is slated to play the son of the character played by Idris Elba in the original film, which was directed by del Toro.

Legendary Pictures plans to produce Maelstrom with Upper Room Productions, a company Boyega and agent Femi Oguns set up earlier this year, BBC reported.

Universal plans to release the film worldwide, except in China. The original film in 2013 grossed $411 million.