Ryan Reynolds to Play 'Detective Pikachu' in Upcoming Live-Action Pokemon Movie

Ryan Reynolds and Pikachu
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images, Nintendo

The 'Deadpool' star will reportedly be providing the voice for the titular animated hero in the recently-announced 'Detective Pikachu' film.

Ryan Reynolds is gearing up to star in the upcoming live-action Pokemon movie, Detective Pikachu.

Based on the Pokemon spin-off game Great Detective Pikachu, released for the Nintendo DS3 in 2016, the story follows a Pikachu – one of the species of Pokemon in Nintendo's beloved franchise-- who fancies himself a private investigator.

Reynolds has been cast to play the eponymous detective, and will reportedly use motion capture technology in his performance, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

While one of the defining characteristics of most Pokemon creatures is their inability to say anything other than their own name, Detective Pikachu is unique in that he's rather verbose and clever. 

The Get Down's Justice Smith co-stars as a young man who, following his father's kidnapping, teams up with Detective Pikachu on the hunt to rescue his missing dad. 

Goosebumps director Rob Letterman is helming the project, from a script penned by Guardians of the Galaxy scribe Nicole Perlman and Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch.

Details surrounding the filming and casting of the film have been kept tightly under wraps as the project moves into production.

Meanwhile, Reynolds is gearing up for the release of his hotly anticipated action-comedy epic Deadpool 2, which is set to explode into theaters June 1.

For more on the exciting, off-the-wall Deadpool sequel, check out the video below.

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