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Detective Pikachu 2: Everything We Know So Far

This is a live-update article and it will be updated as new details about Detective Pikachu 2 come in. This is what we know so far.

Detective Pikachu

The future always seemed bright for the cuddly Detective Pikachu even before the film landed in theaters. The idea of the Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds voicing the yellow furry Pikachu was a major hit. The live-action film based on the enormous video game managed to gross more than $433 Million worldwide after its release in 2019. Deciding to come up with a sequel is a no-brainer. So when the creators announced that a sequel was in the works, fans became ecstatic! However, recent developments seem to indicate otherwise. Here's all you need to know about Detective Pikachu 2.

When Will Detective Pikachu 2 Release?

Detective Pikachu was released on 10 May 2019 in the US. The sequel was announced even months before the film hit the theaters. Legendary Pictures announced on January 25, 2019, that they're hiring Oren Uziel to pen the script for the sequel. In February 2020, lead star Justice Smith revealed to ComingSoon that he hadn't received any word regarding the follow-up yet. Then the lockdowns brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic came a month later, so further delays are already expected. Two years later, in May 2021, we received rather heart-breaking news. Justice Smith spoke to Inverse and revealed that plans for the film’s sequel have been scrapped.

“I don’t know if it’s going to happen. I think we have to just kind of bury our hopes. I don’t think it’s going to happen. I really hope so, though. Honestly, I’m such a huge fan, who knows, who knows? I hope so.” Smith said.

However, recent news has changed the direction.

In March 2023, as reported by Deadline, news broke that Legendary Entertainment is currently in discussions with a new team of creatives for the upcoming live-action Pokémon film.

Initially, Legendary had hired Oren Uziel, known for his work on "22 Jump Street", to write the screenplay for the sequel, with the anticipation that Rob Letterman, the director of the original movie, would return. However, recent developments in 2023 indicate a shift in direction. Legendary is now considering Jonathan Krisel, notable for his work on "Portlandia", to helm the directorial responsibilities for "Detective Pikachu 2". Additionally, screenwriting responsibilities have transitioned from Uziel to Chris Galletta, recognized for his work on "The Kings of Summer".

But considering the strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) occurred soon after the announcement, it appears improbable that significant progress has been made on the sequel to Detective Pikachu by Krisel and Galletta. If production were to commence before the close of 2023, a release date before 2025 for the upcoming live-action Pokémon film still seems unlikely.

Detective Pikachu

What Do We Expect To Happen In Detective Pikachu 2?

Following the events of the first film, Detective Pikachu 2, will be a lot different. Of course, we're still expecting to see Ryan Reynolds back. However, this time he'll no longer be just the voice behind Pikachu but as Tim's father, Harry Goodman. Towards the end of Detective Pikachu, it was revealed that the reason Tim could hear Pikachu talk was because Mewtwo transferred Harry's consciousness into Pikachu to save him. Now that everything's back in order, Mewtwo returned Harry to his human form while Pikachu's back to his cute "Pika-pika" dialogue. If the sequel happens, we're expecting to see Harry and Tim continue to solve crimes together in Ryme City.

Who Among The Cast Members Are Returning For Detective Pikachu 2?

The cast members from the first film include Justice Smith as Tim Goodman and Ryan Reynolds as his father, Harry Goodman. Other cast members include Ken Watanabe as Harry's friend, Detective Yoshida, and Kathryn Newton as Lucy Stevens, the journalist who helped them on the case. We would expected these key cast members to return for the sequel. However, it is very possible the sequel will contain a whole new cast of human characters.

This article was reviewed and is up to date as of November 18, 2023.