Ryan Reynolds is on board to star in the first-ever live-action Pokemon film titled “Detective Pikachu” for Legendary.
“Goosebumps” helmer Rob Letterman will direct “Detective Pikachu” from a script by Nicole Perlman and Alex Hirsch.
The Deadpool star is joining Justice Smith and “Big Little Lies” actress Kathryn Newton in the movie, according to the Variety magazine.
The concept of Pokemon, which launched with a video game that transformed into a card-collecting, TV and movie franchise phenomenon, sees players acting as trainers who collect cute but powerful monsters called Pokemon in order to compete in battle tournaments.
Pikachu is a species of Pokemon, while Detective Pikachu the character is a peculiar sort from the Pikachu set, a self-styled investigator who is good at finding things.
Reynolds will portray the titular detective.
The story is kicked into gear when Smith's character's father is kidnapped, forcing the teen to team up with Pikachu in order to find him. Newton will play a sassy journalist who helps them on their quest.
Many details of the project are being kept off the grid, including the casting, which has been conducted under the radar by the usually secretive Legendary, says the Hollywood Reporter.
The company has high hopes for the feature project, as the Pokemon franchise has sold 300 million video games worldwide, shipped 23.6 billion TCG cards to 74 countries and has produced an animated series spanning 20 seasons.
But before Reynolds goes yellow, he will return as his foul-mouthed mercenary in next year’s Deadpool 2.
