Pokemon

Gotta catch ’em all…

And quickly before the hype dies down.

In the late 1990s, Pokémon phenomenon began as a couple of games for the original Game Boy but quickly spawned an anime series and 19 movies. All of which follow the adventures of Pokémon Master-in-Training Ash Ketchum,his Pikachu, and assorted friends. Ash’s main quest is to catch ’em all, win the Pokémon League, become a certified Pokémon Master, and foil the plans of Team Rocket-the most useless villain team since Home Alone’s Wet Bandits.

In recent weeks, Pokémon has made a massive comeback and the world caught in a nostalgic craze thanks to the launch of ‘Pokémon GO.’ The augmented reality game allows players to catch Pokémon in the real world, and quit their 9 to 5’s to become full-time Pokémon Masters-in-Training. Even if Zapdos and Mew are a little difficult to find. Nigh impossible. At least there’s plenty of Pidgeottos for everyone.

The game’s not only made 90’s kids feel alive again, it’s also been incredibly profitable. So profitable that Nintendo have seen a 25% increase in shares.

Not missing a beat Legendary Entertainment secured the rights to partner with the Pokémon Company to develop the first live-action Pokémon movie.

Surprisingly a spin-off ‘Pokémon GO’ movie isn’t in the works. At least not yet.

Instead, the first live-action Pokémon movie will be titled Detective Pikachu, based on the ‘Great Detective Pikachu’ game released in Japan earlier this year. The game’s hero is a Pikachu that isn’t as quick or powerful as others of his kind but makes up for that by being the Pokémon world’s equivalent of Sherlock Holmes. Together with his human assistant Tim Goodman, he solves mysteries around the city. Fun.

The movie will probably try and play on the heartstrings, with Detective Pikachu and his human companion both being outsiders. They’ll have to try and prove their worth by: finding Mew and Zapdos, stopping Drowzees munching on kids dreams, staying out of the way of Gengars, and putting a stop to whatever Team Rocket have planned. And in the end, they’ll live happily ever after.

Or the whole movie could be a Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties level disaster.

Still the spin-off’s will be great, who wouldn’t want to watch: Gardener Bulbasaur, Fireman Blastoise, or Popstar Jigglypuff?

Legendary plans to fast track production on Detective Pikachu to begin in 2017.

Please follow and like us:
SHARE
Film and TV Journalist Follow: @widgewidge Follow: @filmandtvnow