A live-action Pokemon movie feels like an odd idea at this point, especially in a time where the frenzy over the Pokemon Go game definitely appears to have faded. Still, Legendary Entertainment is pushing ahead with Detective Pikachu, with Ryan Reynolds in the performance-captured lead role. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ken Watanabe will join him.
Though the usual formula for Pokemon encounters is battles between the creatures spurred on by their human trainers, Detective Pikachu finds a variant of the small, yellow beast instead pursuing a career in crime-solving.
He'll be called up on to help a young man (Justice Smith) finds his missing father. Kathryn Newton is also aboard and Watanabe is apparently filling a role created specifically for him, that of Detective Yoshida. We're hoping writers Nicole Perlman and Alex Hirsch have maintained some small element of Pokemon conflict, if only for Watanabe to break out his Godzilla-famous "let them fight" line.
Rob Letterman is directing the movie, which is gearing up to start shooting this month in London. And talking of Watanabe's 'Zilla work, he'll be seen in Godzilla: King Of Monsters, which stomps in on 22 March next year.
Keep up to date with all the latest movie news, click here to subscribe to Empire and have the latest issue delivered to your door every month.