When it was announced that Warner Bros. was making a Detective Pikachu movie starring Ryan Reynolds as the titular pocket monster, it was unclear just exactly how that was going to work.
Thankfully, we’ve been given our first look at the upcoming film with a trailer today and it looks absolutely incredible. Set in Ryme City, the film stars Reynolds and Justice Smith — as Tim — who must work together to find Tim’s missing father.
For the first ever live-action Pokémon film, Warner Bros. has assembled an experienced team including Director Rob Letterman, two-time Oscar nominated director of photography John Mathieson, production designer Nigel Phelps and Oscar-winning editor Mark Sanger.
Between them, the production team has worked on Goosbumps, Gravity, Pirate of the Caribbean, Gladiator and more. Special effects in Detective Pikachu are being handled by the same company that provided digital effects for Wonder Woman.
Detective Pikachu Trailer
The trailer introduces us to both Tim and Pikachu who have a unique connection. To everyone else, Pikachu only says the famous ‘Pika Pika.’ To Tim however, Pikachu can speak and has the voice of Ryan Reynolds.
It’s absolute madness and it seems like it shouldn’t work, but it just does.
Pikachu is a wise craking, fast talking super sleuth and Tim is desperate to find his missing father. Together, they may just be able to solve the mystery.
See how many Pokémon you can spot in the trailer.
Detective Pikachu will be released in 2019.