Posted July 21, 2016 Got confirmed last night by Deadline, Variety and Hollywood Reporter Legendary Entertainment has won the rights to a Pokemon movie and is partnering with the Pokémon Company to launch the first live-action Pokemon film franchise with a “Detective Pikachu” movie. Legendary said details are being kept under wraps but added that the film will be fast-tracked for production to start in 2017. Detective Pikachu is a new character in the Pokemon universe, introduced through a video game in Japan. The deal comes two weeks after the Pokemon Go app game was released and became a worldwide phenomenon, so much so that it led to a 25% jump in the stock of part owner Nintendo. The augmented reality game allows players to capture, battle and train the Pokemon virtual creatures. Pokémon was introduced in Japan in 1996 and has sold 279 million video games worldwide with 21.5 billion cards shipped to 74 countries, and an animated series spanning 19 seasons. The hugely popular Pokemon Go app recently saw the pocket monsters surge back into the pop culture consciousnesses. Universal Pictures will handle distribution of the live-action film outside Japan as it has done with Legendary’s other films for years. The Pokémon Company’s long time movie collaborator, Toho, will handle distribution of the film franchise in Japan, as it had similarly done in its partnership with Legendary on the reboot for the Godzilla franchise. Legendary was acquired in January by Chinese entertainment giant Wanda for $3.5 billion. The Pokemon movie deal is the third major project it’s acquired in less than a month, following the June 23 purchase of “Bad Blood,” starring Jennifer Lawrence, and an untitled project set up this week for “The Birth of a Nation” producer-director Nate Parker. The Pokemon deal was brokered by Don McGowan at The Pokémon Company International, who led the negotiations with outside counsel Dan Black of Greenberg Traurig. Marty Willhite, Daniel Feinberg and Mike Ross represented the studio. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 21, 2016 World's Greatest Detective @Shorty? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 21, 2016 Needless to say, if it's filmed in the UK I am going to audition for whatever role they have for a 20-something male :p Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 21, 2016 Needless to say, if it's filmed in the UK I am going to audition for whatever role they have for a 20-something male :p Aren't you turning thirty next week, though? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 21, 2016 Kind of an unusual choice for the first live action movie isn't it? Nothing like regular pokemon, a spin-off game that most people in the west haven't even heard of.... Not exactly got high hopes for it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 21, 2016 Aren't you turning thirty next week, though? Yeah, but I don't look my age at all. If they can have 35 year olds playing 17/18 year olds in 90210, I'll be fine :p Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 21, 2016 Needless to say, if it's filmed in the UK I am going to audition for whatever role they have for a 20-something male :p Pretty sure it's going to be a Japanese production though. I have no reason for this though other than feels. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 21, 2016 Pretty sure it's going to be a Japanese production though. I have no reason for this though other than feels. Deal was done through TPCi, not TPC, so I doubt that Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 21, 2016 Well, I don't mind this. A step in any direction at this point is good enough for me, and it does leave room for growth in the same world for other movies. But I'm gutted they aren't going with that I would have liked a lot more, which is either a Jungle Book CGI style Pokémon live action move or adaptations from the game lore. Because as a fan I know how rich the history of the Pokémon world is (say what you like about the generically near-identical plot of each new game), and it seems a bit of a waste that of the 20 year esteemed history of this franchise, it's one of the newest spinoff games being made. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 22, 2016 It's be great it was a more adult comedy. Aimed at the people who grew up with Pokemon, rather than the kids of today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 22, 2016 And yet it's clearly going to be the opposite. It will appeal solely to young kids who think Pikachu is cute, and have absolutely nothing for fans of the games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 22, 2016 And yet it's clearly going to be the opposite. It will appeal solely to young kids who think Pikachu is cute, and have absolutely nothing for fans of the games. The Detective Pikachu game has more mature themes than usual. It's illogical to assume this is going to be solely kid focused. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 22, 2016 You're basing your logic on themes of a game not released in English. I'm basing mine on the logic of how to market, produce and sell a movie with a cute cgi mouse as the main character. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 22, 2016 Yeah I imagine the themes will be as mature as Professor Layton's film, which still got a U. The central crime will probably involve Team Rocket stealing Ash's Pikachu Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 22, 2016 I just want to see him as a burnt out, drunk and corrupt detective getting bribes from Team Rocket to look the other way in murder cases. The one thing that turns him around is when Ash's headless body is found at the local gym. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted July 22, 2016 Pikachu is the origami killer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 7, 2017 Quote Ryan Reynolds will be playing the role of Detective Pikachu in the upcoming movie, according to Hollywood Reporter. Reynolds was among a list of stars rumored to be in the running for the film. Other actors speculated for the part include Hugh Jackman, Mark Wahlberg, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. This is the third piece of news surrounding the Detective Pikachu film. Justice Smith and Kathryn Newton will both have their own roles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 7, 2017 Aww, I was hoping for Danny Devito. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 7, 2017 (edited) Deadpool voicing Pikachu, how about that. Now I want Ryan Reynoalds to voice Pikachu in every game. In his normal voice. (obviously give him dialogue in that case.. Preferrably sarcastic and cynical). Edited December 7, 2017 by Sméagol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 7, 2017 I'm a bit concerned about that because of his latest Tweet: (Disney taking over FOX rumours.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 7, 2017 Just noticed the Hollywood Reporter article has been updated. It originally said it started as a card-collecting game that went on to be an anime but seems they've corrected that. Was worried for @Serebii's health. 1 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 7, 2017 It's not Danny Devito, but it's still a great choice! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted December 7, 2017 Hearing the news, I have to say that I kinda prefer this casting to Danny DeVito. In terms of who would fit it better, mind. DeVito would have been far more hilarious. Hey, Game Freak, instead of those craptastic Hat Pikachus you've been shoving down our throats, how about a Detective Pikachu distribution, complete with Ryan Reynolds's voice clips? You can have that one for free. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
