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Pokémon Detective Pikachu: UK release date, trailer, cast and all you need to know about the new Ryan Reynolds movie

Pokemon Detective Pikachu is just days away from release in the UK, and it already looks set to be one of the most unusual blockbusters released in 2019.

The movie is the first ever live-action film based on the Pokemon franchise and a chance for fans to see the creatures like never before.

Whereas previous Pokemon films have been captured in the anime style, the animated creatures exist alongside actors in the movie.

The joint American and Japanese project is based on a game of the same name, released on Nintendo 3DS earlier this year, which saw players solve crimes with a talking Pikachu.

The hype for the film is proving infectious, with fans attending a special Pokemon pop-up in Covent Garden ahead of its release.

Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming film.

Cast

Pint-sized detective: Ryan Reynolds provides the voice for Pikachu
Pint-sized detective: Ryan Reynolds provides the voice for Pikachu

Justice Smith stars as a failed Pokemon trainer Tim Goodman, whose father Harry Goodman was a respected police detective disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

Ryan Reynolds, however, is the biggest star attached to the project. He voices Pikachu, an unusually smart Pokemon detective and former partner of Tim’s father. While other humans can only hear him say "Pika Pika", Pikachu encounters Tim and discover he is the only human who can understand him properly.

Together, they investigate Tim’s father’s disappearance, with Pikachu saying: "If you want to find your Pops, I'm your best bet."

Reynolds recognised the unexpected nature of his new role in a recent tweet, posting the tongue-in-cheek comment: “I think we all knew I’d wind up as a miniature detective repeatedly saying the same two words. Just didn’t think it’d be this soon.”

Elsewhere, there are also appearances from the likes of Rita Ora and Bill Nighy in the film. Director Rob Letterman (Shark Tale, Gulliver’s Travels, Goosebumps) helms the project, which is written by Guardians of the Galaxy’s Nicole Perlman.

Trailer

The first trailer has been viewed over 25m times since being revealed this week, and it’s received a mixed reaction to say the least.

The 3D rendering of the Pokemon has polarised viewers, although some went out of their way to praise the look of the trailer.

Others, meanwhile, have called Pikachu’s fur in the trailer “gross” and criticised the look of the film.

The pint-sized character, who can be seen wearing a deerstalker style hat, is joined by a host of other creatures, some more adorable than others. As well as Pikachu, Jigglypuff and a herd of Bulbasaurs, a scaly Charizard and a pretty terrifying Mr. Mime pokemon feature in the clip.

Release Date

Pokémon Detective Pikachu is out in cinemas on May 10 2019.