As of today, though, we have some more insight into just what Pacific Rim's story entails.  Warner Bros. has released the first official synopsis, and for a movie that's well over a year from playing at a theater near you, said synopsis is surprisingly thorough.  Mostly it confirms story tidbits we've been hearing for some time, but ti gives a better idea of the characters played by Charlie Hunnam and Rinko Kinkuchi, as well as throwing down some in-movie nomenclature (Kaiju vs. Jaegers!).

Here's the synopsis, which first appeared at MarketSaw today:

From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ epic sci-fi action adventure “Pacific Rim.”

When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end.  To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge.  But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju.  On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes—a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)—who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past.  Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse.

Oscar^® nominee Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”) is directing “Pacific Rim” from a script by Travis Beacham (“Clash of the Titans”).  Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni and Mary Parent are producing, with Callum Greene serving as executive producer.

The film stars Charlie Hunnam (TV’s “Sons of Anarchy”), Idris Elba (“Thor”), Rinko Kikuchi (“The Brothers Bloom”), Charlie Day (“Horrible Bosses”), and Ron Perlman (the “Hellboy” films).  The ensemble cast also includes Max Martini, Robert Kazinsky, Clifton Collins, Jr., Burn Gorman, Larry Joe Campbell, Diego Klattenhoff, and Brad William Henke.

Del Toro’s behind-the-scenes team includes Academy Award^®-winning director of photography Guillermo Navarro, production designer Andrew Neskoromny, editor Peter Amundson, and costume designer Kate Hawley.

Slated for release in Summer 2013, “Pacific Rim” is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.  The film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Curious to see Charlie Hunnam in his first outing as an event movie leading man.  Most folks doubtless know him as the protagonist on the FX series Sons of Anarchy, but longtime Judd Apatow devotees have long known his promise based on Hunnam's work as Lloyd on the lamentably short-lived Undeclared.  Good to see that Rinko Kikuchi is playing such a prominent role here, since, playing Bang Bang, she walked with The Brothers Bloom.

Listen, when the director of Pan's Labyrinth, Cronos, The Devil's Backbone, Blade II, and the Hellboy movies makes a picture about giant Godzilla-style creatures invading Earth and human defending themselves with huge robots, you put you ass in the seat and watch that picture, no questions asked.

You'll have the chance to do so when Pacific Rim throws down in theaters on July 12, 2013.  Expect a first look at footage in July at this year's Comic-Con, where del Toro is always the belle of the ball.