pikachu

‘The Get Down’ star Justice Smith has landed the lead in the live action ‘Detective Pikachu’ movie, based on the multimedia global smash ‘Pokémon’.  Legendary Pictures landed a deal last summer, following the massive success of ‘Pokémon Go!’, to produce a series of movies based on the franchise.  The first is based on ‘Great Detective Pikachu’ which features an intelligent lead character that can actually talk– not just say his name over and over– who solves mysteries.

Rob Letterman (‘Goosebumps’) is attached to direct.  Alex Hirsch (‘Gravity Falls’) and Nicole Perlman (‘Guardians of the Galaxy’) are working on the script.  Universal will distribute the film.  It is believed that ‘Detective Pikachu’ will depart from the main ‘Pokémon’ mythology, for instance the lead human character will not be Ash Ketchum.

justice smith
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Justice Smith starred on the expensive Baz Luhrmann-produced Netflix series ‘The Get Down’, which unfortunately only lasted for one season.  He also appeared in the YA movie ‘Paper Towns’ based on the John Green novel.  He’ll next appear in another YA adaptation ‘Every Day’ based on the book by David Levithan, which opens on February 2, 2018.  But more impressively, he has joined the cast of ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’.  The sequel to ‘Jurassic World’ was directed by J.A. Bayona (‘A Monster Calls’).  Smith joins returning cast members Jeff Goldblum (from the original trilogy), Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard.  ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’ is in post-production and will be released on June 22, 2018.

It is believed that Smith is portraying Tim Goodman, the main human character from ‘Great Detective Pikachu’, who discovers he can understand Pikachu when he talks.  Speaking of that, it is rumored that Legendary is hoping to land a major name to voice Pikachu in the film, with Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman and Mark Wahlberg all reportedly on Legendary’s wish list.

‘Detective Pikachu’ is slated to begin production in January.  Check back for more news as it becomes known.

Source: Variety