Legendary Entertainment and Universal Pictures announced today that principal photography has begun onDetective Pikachu, the first live-action film based on the globally popular Pokémon franchise. Starring Ryan Reynolds (Deadpoolseries), Ken Watanabe (Godzilla), Justice Smith (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) and Kathryn Newton (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), the film is from director Rob Letterman (Goosebumps,Gulliver’s Travels) and writers Nicole Perlman and Letterman, with Eric Pearson and Tom McCarthy having completed the production polishes. The movie arrives in theaters in North America onMay 10, 2019.
Pokémon has delighted fans of all ages around the world for over two decades. With more than 300 million video games sold worldwide, 23.6 billion Pokémon TCG cards shipped to 74 countries, and an animated series spanning 20 seasons, Pokémon is one of the most successful entertainment properties in the world. ADetective Pikachuvideo game is coming to the Nintendo 3DS family of systems early this year where the newDetective Pikachucharacter will be introduced. The game is used as inspiration for the storyline of the film coming out in May 2019. As of now, the movie will be going up against TriStar’sRosieand STX Entertainment’sUglydolls.
The original video game centers on a young boy namedTim Goodman, who meets Detective Pikachu, who can surprisingly understand humans. They team up to track down two Aipon characters who have been harassing citizens as they start solving more cases together. This movie adaptation will follow Tim Goodman who comes across the title character, as they team up to track down Tim’s missing father. Kathryn Newton will be playing asassy journalistwho helps Tim and Pikachu along the way.
We reported in October thatproduction will begin in January, with the movie coming together on schedule, although there is no indication as to how long production will last. Before Ryan Reynolds signed on, he was on a studio short list ofbig action starsthat they wanted for the role, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Mark Wahlberg and Hugh Jackman. Mary Parent and Cale Boyter produceDetective Pikachufor Legendary Entertainment, while Joe Caracciolo, Jr. (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Logan) and The Pokémon Company’s Tsunekazu Ishihara serve as its executive producers. Legendary’s Alexandra Mendes co-produces.
The talented creative team includes director of photography John Mathieson (Logan,Gladiator), production designer Nigel Phelps (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,Transformers: Dark of the Moon), editor Mark Sanger (Gravity,The Jungle Book), costume designer Suzie Harman (RocknRolla,The Death of Stalin). The film’s visual effects will be crafted by Moving Picture Company (The Jungle Book,Wonder Woman) and Framestore (Paddington 2,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2). Universal Pictures will handle distribution ofDetective Pikachuoutside Japan. Toho will distribute in Japan, as it has done in its partnership withLegendaryon the blockbuster monster reboot forGodzilla.
