One of the most interesting news reports in days claims Legendary Pictures has a handful of action stars — including The Rock — in mind to play the main role of Detective Pikachu.
The rumor comes via The Hashtag Show: Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson are allegedly top contenders to voice the Sherlockian take on everyone’s favorite zaftig, ruddy-cheeked electric rat. Rob Letterman (Goosebumps, Shark Tale, Monsters vs. Aliens) is set to direct, with Nicole Perlman (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Alex Hirsch (Gravity Falls) writing the screenplay.
None of the actors have yet taken any meetings on the role, which would be a motion capture performance. All we can do is desperately pray that the right man, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson comes away with the role that will finally, after all these years, truly make his career. Clear your schedule, Dwayne, an opportunity like this one doesn’t come around often!
The film begins production in London starting Jan. 2018. Legendary Pictures won rights to the first live-action Pokémon movie after a lively bidding war with Warner Bros and Sony.
Pokémon Go ’s unprecedented, massive success is part of the reason Legendary Pictures is moving forward with the film. A Detective Pikachu video game called Detective Pikachu: Birth of a New Team debuted in in Japan last year, featuring the player teaming up with Detective Pikachu to resolve a Sherlock Holmes-style story filled with puzzles and mysteries. The single-player game takes place in Rhyme City, and you can check out the intro and opening cutscene below:
While Detective Pikachu: Birth of a New Team has yet to head overseas, Detective Pikachu’s robust and commanding basso profundo made waves even back then.
Which of the four action stars would you want to see voicing the rough and gruff Detective Pikachu? Are you looking forward to the first live-action Pokémon movie? Would you rather just play the game? Are you still rooting for Danny DeVito?
Feel free to let us know in the comments section below.
