So, maybe we’ll see Danny DeVito as Detective Pikachu after all!
Earlier today, Legendary Entertainment announced that they acquired the live-action film rights for Pokémon. The company aims to produce a film based on new character Detective Pikachu.
As of press time, plot details are unknown, though the film is being fast-tracked to begin production next year.
Earlier this month, we reported that Legendary was in final negotiations for the Pokémon film rights. According to entertainment site Deadline, the deal was to be in the realm of $5 million for the license, as well as 5% of first-dollar gross.
In April, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Legendary, Sony, and Warner Bros were engaged in an auction for the rights. Warner previously released several of the Pokémon anime films, including Pokémon: The First Movie, Pokémon 2000, and Pokémon 3 – The Movie.
Legendary Entertainment is a subsidiary of Chinese company Wanda Group. Earlier this year, the company released the Warcraft movie, which was co-produced with Blizzard and Atlas Entertainment. The feature saw strong ticket sales across the globe, grossing $450 million to become the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time.
The Pokémon Company and Niantic Entertainment launched smartphone game Pokémon GO in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia earlier this month. The title quickly shot to the top of the revenue charts, reaching the #1 spot in under five hours on the iOS App Store, and within four days on the Google Play Store. The title currently enjoys the honor of fastest-selling mobile app ever on both storefronts.
Previously, the honor was held by Supercell’s Clash Royale, which needed two days to top the iOS market and a week to dominate Google Play.
Pokémon GO is currently available in over 25 countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Japan is slated to receive the game later this month. In Japan, McDonald’s is partnering with The Pokemon Company to have each of the company’s 3,900 stores serve as either a gym or a Pokestop.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
