Today, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) has signed on to play Pikachu in Legendary’s upcoming live-action adaption of Detective Pikachu. His name was on the shortlist of actors the studio was looking at to voice Pikachu. The role will be motion-capture in nature as well.
He joins Justice Smith (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) who play’s Tim; a human trainer who is trying to uncover the mystery of his missing father. Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies) has also joined the cast as a sassy investigative reporter who is trying to learn why captured Pokemon are turning on their trainers. This confirms our original story we released a few months ago from leaked audition tapes from the film. Also, based on the audition tapes this version of Pikachu isn’t going to be an adorable side-kick but a gruff sarcastic talking private eye.
Detective Pikachu starts filming in January; Hits theaters in 2019