The
rumors proved true and Warner Bros. today premiered the first trailer for
Pokemon Detective Pikachu, the first-ever live-action movie adaptation of the popular Pokmeon franchise. The upcoming movie blends live actors with CG animated versions of our beloved Pokemon characters as we're transported to Ryme City, a hyper-realistic live-action world where humans and pokemon live together in harmony. Following
reports that early screenings were met with very positive reactions, we can finally judge for ourselves.
The trailer gives us our first look at the highly anticipated film, which stars Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds as the titular Detective Pikachu, a wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth. We also get a general sense in terms of what to expect from the story. When ace private eye Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, his son Tim, a 21-year-old who once dreamed of becoming a Pokemon trainer, teams up with Harry's former Pokemon partner to crack the case. In an hilarious twist, Tim seems to be the only human who can actually understand what Reynolds' Pikachu is saying. The movie very much seems to have a, sort of,
Who Framed Roger Rabbit feel to it, only it's much more family-friendly than the 1988 Touchstone Pictures film.
The story begins when ace private eye 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.
Since its debut in 1996, Pokemon has grown to become a global brand. We've had games, cartoons, toys, and even animated movies. But this is the first time we'll be seeing our beloved Pokemon characters come to life on the big screen in CG alongside real-life actors which makes it all the more exciting.
Pokemon Detective Pikachu is specifically inspired by the Nintendo 3DS game, which was released in Japan in February 2016 and worldwide in March 2018.
Pokemon Detective Pikachu hits theaters may 11, 2019.