Chinese action star Zhang Jin has joined the cast of "Pacific Rim: Maelstrom," the sequel to Guillermo del Toro's 2013 monster film. He joins a number of other Chinese stars in the cast, including Jing Tian ("The Great Wall," "Kong: Skull Island"), Wesley Wong ("Transformers 4"), Lily Ji, Chen Zitong, Lan Yingying and Qian Yong Chen.

Though many of these actors are relatively unknown in the US, they are familiar to the Chinese market, which gave the original "Pacific Rim" enough overseas box office to gain a sequel despite its lackluster US earnings. John Boyega, Scott Eastwood and Cailee Spaeny also star.

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Zhang is a former wushu athlete who began his career as a stunt double in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." He recently won Best Supporting Actor at the 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards for his role in "The Grandmaster," a martial arts drama based on the life of Yip Man.

Shooting for "Pacific Rim: Maelstrom" began earlier this month in Australia. Further scenes will also be shot in China. Although few plot details have been released, it was announced that John Boyega will play the son of Stacker Pentecost, Idris Elba's character in the original. Photos of Boyega in costume recently surfaced on Twitter.

Directed by Steven S. DeKnight and written by Guillermo del Toro, Zak Penn, Jon Spaihts, Derek Connolly, Emily Carmichael, Kira Snyder and T.S. Nowlin, "Pacific Rim: Maelstrom" will hit theaters on February 23, 2018.

(via ComingSoon.net)