‘Detective Pikachu’ Will Begin Filming Next Year

The Pokémon franchise is no stranger to the film industry, having spawned twenty consecutive flicks based on the ongoing anime. Pokemon the Movie: I Choose You! is the latest entry in this series, serving as a celebration of the show’s 20-year history. It launched in Japan on July 15, and it’s scheduled to appear in select theaters across the United States next month.

Moreover, following the success of the mobile title Pokémon GO, Legendary Pictures and The Pokémon Company are collaborating on a live-action take on the iconic brand. However, rather than adapt a storyline from the core video games or the anime, it will be based on Detective Pikachu.

DETECTIVE PIKACHU DETAILS

Omega Underground reports that filming is slated to begin on January 15 in London. Rob Letterman will direct the movie, and Nicole Perlman and Alex Hirsch are penning the script.

The Hashtag Show, according to their sources, says Legendary is eyeing Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson to potentially portray the lead character. However, The Hashtag Show adds how they can’t confirm if Legendary has held any meetings or auditions with these prolific actors.

Dedicated fans of the multimedia franchise may already be aware of the Detective Pikachu character. He debuted in an adventure game for the Nintendo 3DS, which launched in Japan in February 2016. Its official title is Meitantei Pikachū: Shin Konbi Tanjō, although it’s generally referred to as “Great Detective Pikachu” in English-speaking territories. An infamous fan petition with the intention of casting Danny DeVito in the titular role procured over 51,000 digital signatures. Unfortunately, localization plans for the handheld spin-off have not been announced.