Detective Pikachu Movie Trailer, Cast, Every Update You Need To Know

Detective Pikachu stars Ryan Reynolds as the talking electric mouse in the first live-action Pokémon movie. Starring alongside Justice Smith, Rob Letterman's film will see Pikachu investigate the mysterious disappearance of Pokémon from Ryme City. Although this is a Pokémon movie, the story is based on a Nintendo DS game, not the classics that most fans are familiar with. However, Detective Pikachu could lead to more movies down the line.

Release Date: May 10, 2019
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Ken Watanabe, Bill Nighy, Chris Geere
Director: Rob Letterman
Writer: Nicole Pearlman, Rob Letterman

Last updated: November 13, 2018

Detective Pikachu Movie Stars Ryan Reynolds As Pikachu

When it comes to a movie starring a talking Pikachu, the biggest question on everyone's mind is who could bring such a character to life. The game the film is based upon featured a deep-voiced, surly crime-solver in the guise of the electric mouse Pokémon and there's no shortage of big names who could have been cast. In the end, Ryan Reynolds was tapped to voice Detective Pikachu, a role that may just prove more absurd than Deadpool. Of course, Reynolds' latest character will also be less foul-mouthed than the Regeneratin' Degenerate.

Detective Pikachu Releases On May 10, 2019

There's been talk of a Pokémon movie for decades, but it's finally happening over 20 years after the first game. Detective Pikachu releases on May 10, 2019, right in the middle of the summer blockbuster season and just a week after Avengers 4. This sees it expected to be one of the biggest films of 2019.

Detective Pikachu's Cast Is Led by Justice Smith

Alongside Reynolds, The Get Down's Justice Smith will star in Detective Pikachu as Tim, the human companion of Pikachu helping to solve the mysteries of why so many Pokémon have gone missing.

Big Little Lies' Kathryn Newton will co-star in Detective Pikachu alongside Smith as another human helping the lead Pokémon to solve mysteries. Joining them will be Ken Watanabe, Bill Nighy, and Chris Geere, though their roles are still unknown. But with the movie now filming, we should get a full casting announcement very soon.

How Pokémon Look In Detective Pikachu Movie

One of the biggest mysteries about Detective Pikachu was how Pokémon would look in live-action. Set photos teased the new look, which is a rather realistic spin on the traditional look, which was further confirmed by the trailer. Although the Pokémon are certainly unique, the designs are very much in-keeping with how fans imagined them from the game sprites (although some do find them a little furrier than expected).

What Is The Detective Pikachu Movie's Story?

Back in 2016, the Japanese game Great Detective Pikachu was released, which featured the lead Pokémon solving mysteries with a human partner. Mostly, the crimes involved missing Pokémon and other related events, and the movie will follow course. The location, meanwhile, will be Ryme City, also the setting for the game and its English remake.

Watch The Detective Pikachu Trailer

The Detective Pikachu trailer was released on November 12, 2018. It focused on Reynold's talking Pikachu, showing him in various situations and teasing a mystery surrounding his ability to talk (but only to Tim). The trailer also showcased many of the other Pokémon the pair will encounter will encounter, but still kept the specifics of the plot beyond missing creatures a mystery.

Watch: Detective Pikachu Trailer

The Detective Pikachu Movie's Villains Are A Mystery

While we know who the protagonists of Detective Pikachu will be, we've yet to hear anything about the villains. In most Pokémon games and films, a group of villains, like Team Rocket, are generally the antagonists. It's possible something similar will be done in Detective Pikachu, but it's also likely one of the new additions to the cast will be the big bad. The trailer did tease that Greninja will be an antagonist Pokémon.

The Detective Pikachu Movie Poster

Detective Pikachu Movie Poster Easter Eggs

Along with the trailer, a poster was released for Detective Pikachu that further teased Ryme City and its Pokémon culture. Pikachu stands front and center (with a lightning bolt shadow) and the buildings around him showcase a range of Pokémon Easter eggs.

Rob Letterman Is The Director Of The Detective Pikachu Movie

As soon as it was announced that a Detective Pikachu film was in the works, we learned that Rob Letterman would be helming the project. After making a name for himself with Shark Tale and Monsters vs. Aliens, Letterman made a splash when he helped bring Goosebumps to the big screen. The film was a success and a sequel is in the works, and Letterman will helm a Dungeons & Dragons movie following Detective Pikachu. With his background in directing animation, he was a natural fit for the hybrid Goosebumps, and there's no reason to believe he won't bring the same level of expertise to Detective Pikachu.

Nicole Pearlman and Rob Letterman Are Writing The Detective Pikachu Movie

Bradley Cooper as Rocket Racoon and Baby Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy

Before Letterman came aboard, last summer brought the news that Nicole Pearlman and Alex Hirsch would write Detective Pikachu. With Pearlman best known for co-writing Guardians of the Galaxy with James Gunn and Hirsch responsible for Gravity Falls, the combo seemed a winning one for the first live-action Pokémon. When the press release for the start of filming emerged recently, however, Hirsch's name was nowhere to be found. Instead, Pearlman will share final script credit with Letterman. Script rewrites are all too common with blockbusters, so this isn't a shock. Still Gravity Falls fans may be disappointed.

More Detective Pikachu Movie News

More Upcoming Movies

Key Release Dates

Detective Pikachu

Release Date:
2019-05-10