Update: November 16, 2017
Justice Smith Cast as the Lead in Legendary's Live-Action DETECTIVE PIKACHU
The first-ever live-action Pokemon movie has finally found its lead. Justice Smith (
The Get Down) will star in Legendary's feature based on the mystery-solving Detective Pikachu character.
Goosebumps director Rob Letterman is set to helm from a script by
Guardians of the Galaxy writer Nicole Perlman and
Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch.
Detective Pikachu is planned as the first in a series that will be based on the popular Pokemon franchise, which spans card games, video games, TV series and animated films. There have been 20 Pokemon animated features, beginning with
Pokemon: The First Movie — Mewtwo Strikes Back in 1998.
The
Detective Pikachu movie has been a priority for Legendary since the company acquired the rights to the Japanese property in July 2016, following the
Pokemon Go mobile game craze.
The Pokemon Company's longtime partner, Toho, will handle distribution of
Detective Pikachu in Japan. Universal Pictures will handle distribution in all other territories.
Smith, who appeared in the John Green adaptation
Paper Towns, will star opposite Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard in Universal's
Jurassic World sequel. The actor is also set for the MGM feature
Every Day.
Justice Smith to Star in Legendary's Live-Action Pokemon Movie 'Detective Pikachu'