Detective Pikachu

[Silvermoth]

Screenrant posted this article and a quote from Rob Letterman says why they went this way instead of doing a real Pokemon movie. I highlighted the quote in bold.

Detective Pikachu Director Explains Why Movie Doesn't Star Ash Ketchum



It's a pretty dumb excuse. They could've made movies about Red, the real OG protagonist from the games. You know, the kid who took down his rival Blue then Giovanni and Team Rocket and then caught Mewtwo?

Can I be honest? Putting on my tin foil hat here, I feel like they wanted to cast Ash as a white guy but knew that would cause a backlash. So they went with different characters instead of whitewashing or just casting diverse leads

 

[smallville fan]

Can I be honest? Putting on my tin foil hat here, I feel like they wanted to cast Ash as a white guy but knew that would cause a backlash. So they went with different characters instead of whitewashing or just casting diverse leads

I remember hearing the real reason for it from Max Landis who, if you look back on the thread pitched a Pokèmon movie said that they pulled back possibly I think due to budget reasons or something.

A real Pokèmon movie does in my opinion needs an Avatar level of scope in terms of CG and creature design. Maybe it could be that they are testing the waters in the end and we'll see a full on Pokèmon movie series soon. And hopefully people will rather get on board with an all Asian cast than to relive Dragon Ball Evolution again.

 

[CJ]

This movie will make a ton of money on brand name recognition alone. I think the possibility for a real Pokemon film in the future is very likely.

 

[MOVIELORD101]

Can I be honest? Putting on my tin foil hat here, I feel like they wanted to cast Ash as a white guy but knew that would cause a backlash. So they went with different characters instead of whitewashing or just casting diverse leads

As someone who really doesn't like Ash as a character, I'm completely OK with the fact he's not in this movie. The game they're basing the movie off of doesn't have him in it either, so it's not necessary. Plus, the guy's a complete ninny who's also a borderline Garry Stu who keeps losing every major Pokemon tournament he competes in.

 

[Abudefduf]

The moron also kept freeing his most powerful Pokemon.

 

[MOVIELORD101]

The moron also kept freeing his most powerful Pokemon.

That too. The only characters in the anime who are dumber than him are Team Rocket. Those guys are so stupid they make Emperor Pilaf from DragonBall look like The Red Skull by comparison! And their stupid f-ing motto sucks, yet they keep having to recite it EVERY DAMN TIME THEY SHOW UP! All that stuff combined made me quit the show.

 

[Arachnerd]

Eh, don't really care for Ash either, but I do want to see a real Pokémon movie in the big screen. Even if it would probably cost a fortune to make.

 

[Silvermoth]

I reckon it will be cool to see the old faves together in live action. Ash, misty, brick, Professor oak, ash’s mum, mr mime.

Dat ash

 

[smallville fan]

That too. The only characters in the anime who are dumber than him are Team Rocket. Those guys are so stupid they make Emperor Pilaf from DragonBall look like The Red Skull by comparison! And their stupid f-ing motto sucks, yet they keep having to recite it EVERY DAMN TIME THEY SHOW UP! All that stuff combined made me quit the show.

Aww come on, it's part of the charm of the Pokemon cheese. If Jessie and James became live action, you can bet that they'll do the motto at some point.

I reckon it will be cool to see the old faves together in live action. Ash, misty, brick, Professor oak, ash’s mum, mr mime.

Dat ash

I like Ash cause he is who everyone grew up with but I'd like to see the real OG protagonist aka Red get his due you know.

 

[Silvermoth]

Red is a little bit too American truckstop redneck though

 

[Spider-Aziz]

I forgot all about this gem of a film.
And Smallville, dude, take out that picture before it gives you trouble.

 

[Inhuman117]

Well ASH is just his Stupid Western Name the better Question would be Why Isn't Satoshi in the Movie?

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Well ASH is just his Stupid Western Name the better Question would be Why Isn't Satoshi in the Movie?

Cause he's the same idiot people would rather avoid seeing on film.

 

[TheVileOne]

This movie will make a ton of money on brand name recognition alone. I think the possibility for a real Pokemon film in the future is very likely.

Unless it gets bad reviews and bombs terribly like Warcraft.

 

[terry78]

Kids know Pikachu. **** grown ass people know him.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

The electric mouse was introduced to kids over 20 years in the past.

 

[TheVileOne]

It sounds like Hollywood double-speak to me. I don't buy the explanation.

 

[Silvermoth]

Well ASH is just his Stupid Western Name the better Question would be Why Isn't Satoshi in the Movie?

It would be interesting if Lugia’s Prophecy was “the whole world will turn to Satoshi”

 

[Inhuman117]

Pokemon is still one of the Greatest and most Selling franchises on this World mostly in Japan but i have the feeling Legendary will miss a good and far too late Marketing Strategy like Always and the movie will Bomb they really need to push the Movie strong as Possible mostly in Asia and Europe

 

[divan]

Can I be honest? Putting on my tin foil hat here, I feel like they wanted to cast Ash as a white guy but knew that would cause a backlash. So they went with different characters instead of whitewashing or just casting diverse leads

My theory is that they wanted a Pokémon movie, but thought the premise (capturing wild animals and making them fight for sport) could be problematic in live-action nowadays, specially if you're selling it to children.

 

[Arachnerd]

You mean backlash from the PC brigade? Pokémon's been getting accusations and backlash from parents and religious groups since its inception, so it would be nothing new.

 

[smallville fan]

My theory is that they wanted a Pokémon movie, but thought the premise (capturing wild animals and making them fight for sport) could be problematic in live-action nowadays, specially if you're selling it to children.

It's actually due to budgetary reasons and the typical reception of Anime to live action Hollywood adaptation movies is the reason why.

This was before people realised that audiences were okay with movies with a potentially all Asian cast like "Crazy Rich Asians".

 

[terry78]

If Pokemon ever gets made they're not doing an all Asian cast, we already know that.

 

[Silvermoth]

That would be very unwise. I mean crazy rich asians is burning up the box office right now. Would they really prefer ghost in the shell numbers to that?

 

[MOVIELORD101]

I've gotten some news from a reliable source regarding the movie. He attended an early screening of the film and says it's a lot of fun! Here's some non-spoiler details on the film as to get you guys excited, as he mentioned:

* The movie's faithful plot-wise to the 3DS game in that its its own thing; don't expect any references to stuff from the anime like Ash or Team Rocket. Humans live in a world where Pokemon live along with civilian life.
* Ryan Reynolds is great as Pikachu. What they won't tell you in the trailer most likely is that only Tim (Justice Smith's character's name, apparently) can hear Pikachu. Everyone else just hears the classic "Pika" talk like in the show (and yes, its the Pikachu voice from the anime; no Ryan doing any of the "Pika" talk). Just to clarify ahead of time.
* The Pokemon are primarily CGI but look "so authentic and awesome".
* Personality-wise, Detective Pikachu as a character is like his game counterpart in that he's gruff and stern, but "you get a bit of deadpool humor, or maybe that's because Reynolds is associated with that character. But it's totally Pikachu. It's quite surprising how the voice matches him. There is one dirty joke in the movie.....But again, so surprised how well it matches."
* Like in the game, his human owner/detective partner goes missing and he tags along with Justice Smith because he's the only one who can understand him.
* None of the Pokemon are villains, there is one villain that controls them.
* Expect first trailer probably late in November "With "Wreck it Ralph 2" possibly." Don't call this a guarantee; could be earlier than that but figure November regardless
* Movie is still on track for May release.

Thoughts?