When most people awoke today, they expected it to be just another Monday. One where nothing really interesting happens. Little did they know their afternoon would be interrupted by something that would bring into question the very fabric of reality. Oh, wait, you don’t know what we’re talking about? Then you obviously haven’t seen this Detective Pikachu trailer, yet.
So, you likely have a few questions. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Maybe an official synopsis will help a little.
“The story begins when ace private eye Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son Tim (Justice Smith) to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu. A hilariously wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth who is a puzzlement even to himself. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to communicate with one another, Tim and Pikachu join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the tangled mystery. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City—a sprawling, modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world—they encounter a diverse cast of Pokémon characters and uncover a shocking plot that could destroy this peaceful co-existence and threaten the whole Pokémon universe.“
See, it all makes sense now. Beyond the initial comparisons to Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, this looks like an interesting beast. Detective Pikachu originally started off life as a Nintendo 3DS game. One released in Japan back in 2016, while it hit the rest of the world last year. Striking while the iron was hot, production on the movie started almost right away. Naturally, most wondered who would voice the lead. There was even a strange petition going around at one point, trying to secure the role for Danny DeVito. Instead, it went to Ryan Reynolds. A more basic and obvious choice, but one that seems to fit this world.
If there’s one unexpected wrinkle to all this (just one?) it’s that Detective Pikachu looks kind of fun. That could just be shock talking. Watch the trailer a second time and notice how massive the story feels. Part of the is due to the surprising amount of talent involved behind the camera. Director Rob Letterman is responsible for the surprisingly solid Goosebumps and Monsters Vs. Aliens films. He co-wrote the feature with Nicole Perlman, who comes from the Marvel world. Having co-written the first Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as the upcoming Captain Marvel. Cinematography iseven done by Oscar Nominee John Mathieson (Gladiator, Logan). If you have you have creepily photorealistic Pokemon in your movie, you’ve got to have someone capture them perfectly.
What we’re curious about, dear reader, is how you feel about all this. Are nervously excited for Detective Pikachu? Do you get pangs of Ready Player One meets Super Mario Bros. from this trailer? Have any of you played the game? Is there someone else you’d rather voice Pikachu here? Let us know in the comments. Pokemon Detective Pikachu plans to dominate the box office, starting May 10, 2019. Until then, rewatch the trailer above a few times and decide which Pokemon is the creepiest. Otherwise here’s the film’s first poster, which is just as eye-popping as you’d expect.
