A few months back, there were rumours of multiple film companies battling it out for the rights to produce silver screen films based on Nintendo's popular Pokémon franchise. Things quieted down for a bit, but the dust got kicked up again in more recent times with the runaway success of Pokémon GO. Now, it's been revealed that Legendary Pictures won out the bargaining war, and the company's wasting no time getting into production of it's first film.
Some of you may remember that odd side-project that released in Japan a few months back, called Detective Pikachu. The game starred a talking Pikachu and his human sidekick as they investigated the disappearance of the sidekick's father. Evidently, Legendary Pictures really liked the idea, because they'll be producing a full-fledged, live-action film based on it. Production begins in 2017 with an assumed release sometime in 2018. Toho will be handling the distribution of the film in Japan, while Universal Pictures will distribute everywhere outside of Japan.
What do you think? Are you looking forward to this new film? Do you see Pokémon as being a good fit for the big screen? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
[source hollywoodreporter.com]
Comments 65
"Live-Action Detective Pikachu"
DEVITO DEVITO DEVITO DO ITTTT
I have a bad feeling about this even though i like Legendary
2018 is a short date if they plan to start in 2017.
I was hoping Legendary wouldn't get the rights.... Horrible studio....
I was ready for a live-action Pokemon movie but this was not the kind of Pokemon movie i was expecting.
@MitchVogel lol
😐
Uhhhhhh how relevent will this be in the rest of the world though where we don't even have the game?
Yes I'm still salty about it.
@SanderEvers hopefully
im glad its not a movie about pokemon battles. that would have been cheesy. i think detective pikachu is perfect.
Sounds terrible. Now just add Melissa McCarthy and Adam Sandler and they've a nailed on Golden Raspberry award for Comedy of the Year.
@Peterjr1 @SanderEvers i think this is why the game was delayed...maybe to promote the movie and the game at the same time?
I'm not a huge Pokemon fan but i honestly would've preferred a movie based on regular Pokemon not this but if they cast Danny DeVito as Pikachu I'm in!
@TheRedCap30 already know they're not gonna use practical i just hope this movie doesn't end up being a steaming pile of garbage like the live-action Smurfs and Garfield movies
gonna be tough for the detective to solve crimes with all the crazed people trying to capture him in their mobiles.
@TheRedCap30 i'd say go all out and do it power rangers style with rubber suit pikachu.
Very happy about this. Detective Pikachu is a fantastic choice due to being a visual novel.
My biggest concern would be, please give it a actually good blu-ray treatment
Hang on, according to my calendar it's not April 1st...
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
They should use that as an honest tagline when it's pasted up on every bus in the country
To be fair, if they started production in January and released it in December that's still a long time. I'd be more concerned if they said it would start production in late 2017
Sounds fine (well, relatively speaking since I don't really care all that much), but shouldn't their first movie deal represent what the franchise is about a little more? I think an animated movie for kids not starring the un-aging animated character from a series as old as I am would be the better move. Like telling a normal story Ghibli/Disney style, not promoting the "super-rare-legendary-you-guys-!!!" of the day, you know...
Movies, toys, smartphone games and clothing. It seems as though Nintendo can't keep that many balls in the air at the same time.
Nintendo has two core products. A home console and a handheld console. While the handheld console is going ok (just), game wise, the home console consists of mainly new rubbish eshop games.
It's about time the home console market was more unified so we can play a game on either console. Much like a DVD player. Nintendo should now bow out of this market and make games for the other two home consoles.
Gah. Already the process has begun with some pretentious writer saying "I think what the concept of Pokémon is trying to be is...".
@zool Surely Sony would be best to bow out as their output is considerably less than Nintendo's. I think you have a skewed perspective of the industry fella. You want a unified DvD player for games, and Nintendo should develop for the other 2 systems. YOU SIR ARE BEING NEGATIVE FOR THE SAKE OF BEING NEGATIVE! GET A GIRLFRIEND AND LIGHTEN UP!
Ewwww why ? I have feeling it will be a bad movie ... I want something about ash .. Legendary Pokemon and some Pokemon battles etc .. Something close to the anime
Haha! This is great. Hopefully this means we'll get Detective Pikachu outside Japan!
@peeks : They've been making those every year without fail for nearly 20 years now. There's no shortage of Pokémon movies involving Ash, legendary Pokémon and battles. =
@GrailUK you make a lot of personal assumptions in you biased comments and you could not be more adrift, as you are with your observations about Sony
Also, most, if not all people, are 'not' case sensitive when reading comments.
Well... this is so weird.
@zool But why would you want to play Nintendo games on other system since you hate Nintendo games? Hypocrisy much?
Mark my words, this will be Smurfs/Chipmunks rubbish!!
@Henmii True but kids are stupid.
@bitleman I like Nintendo games. But I do not like the lack of Nintendo games or the lack of third party games. I want a console where I can play both. The Wii u failed on this and I am not convinced that the NX is going to be any better.
At the moment nothing at all is known about the NX including a release date, that is not just a rumour. Like Zelda the only thing we can be certain about is Nintendo's ability to postpone things.
Pikachu will be black,yellow and red, all in one and also homosexual, "thanks" to "we love everyone" in us.
united states i mean
Toho distributing the film in Japan... I have a good feeling about this - Detective Pikachu, after all, is the best fit when it comes to live-action adaptations, what with Pikachu being able to talk.
Also, the Toho deal might have something to do with the amazing job Legendary has done with Godzilla, hence Toho believing the franchise is in good hands.
My only complaint is that the Disney-esque human character design in Detective Pikachu would have made Disney also a good fit. Eh, can't win 'em all... could only catch 'em all, after all.
this is a crazy experimental Japanese side game with the story not being a good part of it. Plus Pikachu TALKS!!! There is no way this can be a good movie....they could have just remade The First Movie with Mewtwo, or summarised the Indigo League into a dramatic trilogy. this is the worst move they could make. Hopefully someone else gets right to Pokemon CGI movies, would be a much better fit than LIVE ACTION DETECTIVE PIKACHU of all things.
Will it feature the song "Let it Go"? Have you guys heard it?
@KTT That's at most 2 years.. More than enough, it's not a game..
@Octane Many CG movies takes 2-3 years to make. If they want add Pikachu to the movie, I count the CGI into the production.
@KTT It's just one character though. CGI is used in almost every movie today. Star Wars can do it in less two years, then this should be possible as well.
Hm, not what I was expecting. I was hoping for a more authentic Pokemon story, something about a trainer competing to be the very best, you know. I think this will probably be a better fit for Hollywood though, they seem to have a hard time adapting anime and their actual storylines.
@Octane Hmm, I looked up in Google and I found that Legendary Pictures are US based. They may have what it takes to make it. Meaning that the distinctive cheesy eastern CG will rather not be in the movie.
I still feel that 2018 is a bit stretch date. Late 2018 is more likely to me.
does this mean well get a full release of the game as well?
The idea is so bad that the movie is gonna be good.
@KTT Late 2018 is still 2018.
I'm glad they are doing something unique and not following the anime/games story. I don't think that will work for a movie.
Makes sense in a weird sort of way. A game-based storyline with eight gyms and a team of baddies is a better fit for a longer episodic show than a movie. And we already have an anime that does that. By doing this, the movie can focus on a few core characters and a tighter plot. And Pikachu is still the series mascot, like it or not, so this is a decent way to use them.
Plus, I like stories about "A Boy and his X."
What the heck?!
better yet, make that pikachu trap humans with humanballs (omgxD) and put them to fight until one of them faints.
Seriously, I know detective pikachu is not something new, but it still makes me scratch my head...
Who in their right minds came up with this? why would this make a good movie?
D=
I'm not sure how I feel about this. On one hand, Detective Pikachu would probably be a better fit than, say, turning Mewtwo Strikes Back into a live-action movie (I hope that never happens....). However, there have been many video games and animated shows that have not translated well to the silver screen at all.
@Frank90 My thoughts exactly. I'm still laughing
Though the choice was probably done over the idea that "Pokemon has done so well with western audiences, this is the brand to go with". I hope it isn't aimed at children, but hope is all I can do.
I wish the game itself will make it to us
Pokemon vs. Dragon Ball Z, now that'll be something 2 watch
Man, they better do this right, something more based upon the anime, games, or a completely original idea would for sure have a better chance at success, rather than a small side game that was exclusive to Japan
C'MON, DANNY! You can do it!
Sounds awful. It's going to be a big hit.
Starring... Adam Sandler, and Nicholas Cage...
@zool Well you smiled so I am happy now
@Xjay
Your profile pick says it all
If Danny Devito doesn't voice Detective Pikachu, then this moview will fail...
Kid friendly Ted it seems to me.
I like Legendary, so I'm confident it'll be good.
Love how Legendary seems to like Japanese pop culture enough.
@Rexx YES! DEVITO ALL DAY!
@SLIGEACH_EIRE,
Lol!
Kids eat what they get served. So its up to the parents to serve them quality. Like a very good Zelda game or a Pixar movie instead of a stupid licensed game or a third-rate movie.
@RodSD64 No, tell me about it
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