When fans plunge back into the drift of Pacific Rim 2, they're in for a big surprise. According to writer-director Guillermo del Toro, the upcoming sequel, scheduled for a 2017 release, will make some big departures from the world of the first film, and enhance certain elements that were little more than window dressing the first time around.

"Namely, for example 'the Drift,' which was an interesting concept," he told The Wall Street Journal, referring to the neural link between Jaeger pilots. "[Then there was] this portal that ripped a hole into the fabric of our universe, what were the tools they were using? And we came up with a really, really interesting idea. I don’t want to spoil it, but I think at the end of the second movie, people will find out that the two movies stand on their own. They’re very different from each other, although hopefully bringing the same joyful giant spectacle. But the tenor of the two movies will be quite different."

Not only is a Pacific Rim sequel in development, but an animated series is on the way as well. It's expected to arrive before the new movie.

"We’re formulating ideas that are, again, interesting and not the usual route, but the series tackles the stories that happened to pilots working in the Shatterdome," del Toro said, referring to the base where Jaegers are housed and pilots are trained, "but also cadets learning how to become pilots. All of this happens prior to the first movie, and it gives you a little more depth into the background of certain characters that will appear in the second movie."

Pacific Rim 2 arrives in theaters on April 7, 2017.