POKÉMON Detective Pikachu Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

Plot

The first-ever live-action Pokémon adventure, POKÉMON Detective Pikachu stars Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu, the iconic face of the global Pokémon phenomenon—one of the world’s most popular, multi-generation entertainment properties and the most successful media franchise of all time.

Fans everywhere can now experience Pikachu on the big screen as never before, as Detective Pikachu, a Pokémon like no other. The film also showcases a wide array of beloved Pokémon characters, each with its own unique abilities and personality.

The story begins when ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son Tim to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu: a hilariously wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth who is a puzzlement even to himself. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to communicate with one another, Tim and Pikachu join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the tangled mystery. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City—a sprawling, modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world—they encounter a diverse cast of Pokémon characters and uncover a shocking plot that could destroy this peaceful co-existence and threaten the whole Pokémon universe.

Cited as official plot version

Adventure Family Sci-Fi CG Live-Action/CGI Detective

• J
  Justice Smith

  ... Tim

  Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, The Voyeurs

• 
  Kathryn Newton

  ... Lucy

  Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, Abigail

• 
  Ryan Reynolds

  ... Detective Pikachu (voice)

  Animal Friends, Deadpool & Wolverine

• R
  Rita Ora

  Tin Soldier, Voltron

• S
  Suki Waterhouse

  Burn, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

• 
  Bill Nighy

  Shelter, About Time

• K
  Ken Watanabe

  ... Detective Yoshida

  Kokuho, Inception

Who is making POKÉMON Detective Pikachu – Crew List

A look at POKÉMON Detective Pikachu behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The film's director Rob Letterman last helmed Goosebumps and Gulliver's Travels. The film's writer Nicole Perlman last penned Guardians of the Galaxy and Kiss & Tango.

Director

Rob Letterman

Screenwriters

Nicole Perlman
Alex Hirsch

Producers

Cale Boyter
Mary Parent

Production – What we know about the POKÉMON Detective Pikachu

Copy link to Production – What we know about the POKÉMON Detective Pikachu

Key Facts

• The film will be distributed outside of Japan and China by Warner Bros. Pictures, in Japan by Toho Company, Ltd. and by Legendary East in China (11/13/18).
• Kathryn Newton will play Lucy, a sassy journalist who goes on an adventure with the boy (Hollywood Reporter, 11/29/17).
• Pikachu will be a motion-capture creation for the movie (Hollywood Reporter, 11/29/17).
• The first pic in a planned franchise (Hollywood Reporter, 11/30/16).
• Based on the upcoming game “Detective Pikachu" (Variety, 8/16/16).
• There have been 19 films released based on Pokemon.
• Universal Pictures will handle distribution of the live-action film outside of Japan. Toho will handle distribution in Japan.
• This will be a live action film.
• The Japanese-based Pokemon Co., which manages rights to the franchise spun from the hit Nintendo game, has been courting Hollywood for a movie. Multiple studios have been in the running - including Warner Bros, Sony and Legendary Pictures (Hollywood Reporter, 4/15/16).

Movie Filming Timeline: Production Status Updates

Mar 2019

Completed

Changed POKÉMON Detective Pikachu movie production status. The movie is ready for release.

Jul 2018

Post-Production

Changed the movie production status to Post-Production. The movie is now in the editing and finishing stages.

Dec 2017

Pre-Production

Changed the movie production status to Pre-Production. Production is due to start mid-January 2018 in London.

Dec 2016

Pre-Production

Changed the movie production status to Pre-Production. Rob Letterman will direct the Legendary project, which is being fast tracked to start production in 2017.

Jul 2016

Development

Changed the movie production status to Development. Being fast tracked to start production in 2017.

Apr 2016

Development

Changed the movie production status to Development. A big-budget live-action Pokémon movie is in the works.

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