Stacker Pentecost

Lore & Background

Pentecost reveals to Raleigh that he has radiation poisoning from excessive Jaeger piloting. Although doing so again would prove fatal, he resolves to co-pilot Striker Eureka in the injured Herc's stead. When two new Kaiju are detected at the Breach, Gipsy and Striker approach, before the most powerful Kaiju yet appears. Pentecost and Chuck sacrifice themselves by detonating their nuclear warhead, killing one Kaiju and allowing Gipsy to defeat the other and ride its corpse into the Breach. On selecting Idris Elba for the role, del Toro stated: 'I wanted somebody that could bring a lot of authority, but that you could feel the weight of the world on his shoulders. When I watched Luther, that's the essence of the character ... Luther is carrying literally the evils of the world on his shoulders. He's doing penance for all humanity.' Del Toro initially envisioned the character as a Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell-type character and offered the role to Tom Cruise, who briefly accepted but ultimately backed out over pay and scheduling.

In Their Own Story

The command bridge hummed with the tension of a dying world. Pentecost had adopted and raised Mako after her parents died in a Kaiju attack. He suspended Mako from piloting Gipsy Danger, and Raleigh protested, suggesting the real reason was to protect her. Pentecost remained unswayed. Knowing his radiation poisoning would prove fatal, he resolved to co-pilot Striker Eureka in the injured Herc's stead. At the Breach, he and Chuck sacrificed themselves by detonating their nuclear warhead, killing one Kaiju and allowing Gipsy to defeat the other and ride its corpse into the Breach.

Reader's Guide

Marshal Stacker Pentecost began his career as a Jaeger pilot before rising to command the Pan Pacific Defense Corps. He is a firm believer in the power of the Jaeger program and will stop at nothing to see it succeed. Despite his tough exterior, Pentecost is deeply compassionate and fiercely loyal to his team. He adopted and raised Mako Mori after her parents died in a Kaiju attack. Pentecost reveals to Raleigh that he has radiation poisoning from excessive Jaeger piloting. Although doing so again would prove fatal, he resolves to co-pilot Striker Eureka in the injured Herc's stead. When two new Kaiju are detected at the Breach, Gipsy and Striker approach, before the most powerful Kaiju yet appears. Pentecost and Chuck sacrifice themselves by detonating their nuclear warhead, killing one Kaiju and allowing Gipsy to defeat the other and ride its corpse into the Breach.

Did You Know?

• Del Toro initially offered the role of Stacker Pentecost to Tom Cruise, who briefly accepted but ultimately backed out over pay and scheduling.
• To prepare for the role, Idris Elba watched footage of politicians David Cameron and Barack Obama, as well as Russell Crowe in Gladiator and Mel Gibson in Braveheart.
• Pentecost has radiation poisoning from excessive Jaeger piloting, which ultimately proves fatal when he co-pilots Striker Eureka one last time.
• Pentecost adopted and raised Mako Mori after her parents died in a Kaiju attack.
• Del Toro described wanting an actor who could 'embody humanity, in almost like a Rodin sculpture-type, larger than life' for the role of Pentecost.