Kathryn Newton
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‘Detective Pikachu’ has found its female lead in Kathryn Newton, who will star as Lucy, a character described as a “sassy journalist” who joins the male lead, played by Justice Smith, while investigating mysteries.  Smith’s role is believed to be that of Tim Goodman, a character from the ‘Detective Pikachu’ video game.  There are two Lucys (I think), so it’s unclear which one Newton is playing, if it’s even a preexisting character.  One is from the ‘Pokémon’ anime proper (above).  That Lucy is a Pike Queen and her signature Pokémon is Seviper, to whom she bears a physical resemblance.  There is also Lucy Fleetfoot, from the puzzle game ‘Pokémon Trozei!’.  She is accompanied by her allies Aipom and Manectric.  But it’s possible that the film character is neither of these.

Newton starred on the HBO series ‘Big Little Lies’ which also featured Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Alexander Skarsgård and Laura Dern.  She also had a regular role on AMC’s ‘Halt and Catch Fire’ and the recurring role as Claire Novak on ‘Supernatural’.  She will reprise that role on the ‘Supernatural’ spin-off ‘Wayward Sisters’.  She can currently be seen in two of the most acclaimed films of the year, ‘Ladybird’ and ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ both of which are generating major awards buzz.  Newton next appears on the TV miniseries adaptation of ‘Little Women’ which will air on the BBC in the UK and on PBS in the US.

Lucy Fleetfoot

Newton reportedly beat out Natalia Dyer (Nancy on ‘Stranger Things’), Katherine Langford (Hannah Baker on ’13 Reason Why’) and Haley Lu Richardson (Claire in M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Split’) for the role of Lucy.

Rob Letterman (‘Goosebumps’) is directing, with a screenplay by Alex Hirsch and Nicole Perlman.  Production is set to begin in London in mid-January.  In the film, Pikachu, who will be created via motion capture, will be able to speak– at least to Tim– and Legendary Pictures is hoping for a big name to voice the character, with Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman and Mark Wahlberg all reportedly having been considered.

How do you think ‘Detective Pikachu’ is shaping up?

Source: The Hollywood Reporter