Pikachu will return to the big screen, in all his electrifying and "pika-pika" glory, when Detective Pikachu hits theaters May 10.
The iconic yellow creature (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) from the Pokémon game series joins Ryme City resident Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) on his quest to find his missing father.
Director Rob Letterman spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about how he came to bring the story of Detective Pikachu to the big screen, explaining that while he was initially unfamiliar with the world of Pokemon, his two children are devoted fans and inspired him to take on the project.
"My credit card was very familiar with Pokemon, then I was very familiar with it — Pokemon cards, the toys, the video games," he joked. "It was in our household for a while even before I heard about the movie."
The film, which primarily takes from the 2017 video game of the same name, holds a "really human story" with a "really fabulous character" that Letterman said Reynolds perfected.
Reynolds' voice exudes the big personality necessary to make this film's main character pop, Letterman said. He said when he matched the audition animation with Reynolds' voice, it seemed perfect.
"The second I saw that, it was a done deal. That was it, it was perfect," he said. "Sometimes things just sit perfectly."
On selecting which Pokemon to include in the film, Letterman said he worked with designers and the Pokemon company. Though the Ryme City's population comprises of Pokemon from different generations, Letterman said first-generation characters were a must.
"The one thing I discovered quickly was that the fans aren't just kids," he said. "There's fans on the crew in their 20s and early 30s, so we picked a lot of first-generation Pokemon so they can connect with this and relive their childhood."
From Charizard to Greninja (and Squirrel, Cubone, Gyarados and Mr. Mime), here's what to know about the different Pokémon in Detective Pikachu.
