What is the current status of the Detective Pikachu sequel, which was previously a well-publicized project but has recently gone quiet amidst all the news of video game adaptations being made into movies?
The original film, led by director Rob Letterman and featuring Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, and Kathryn Newton, was a heartfelt ode to the world of Pokémon. It seamlessly combined live-action with stunning CGI depictions of the iconic creatures, delivering a thrilling adventure with beloved characters, references to the franchise, and witty gags. The “Detective Pikachu” movie was released in 2019 and earned $433 million globally. It was widely expected that a sequel would be made. The film is currently ranked second, only behind “Warcraft,” as the most successful movie adaptation of a video game. Therefore, the statement by the lead actor Justice Smith in 2021 suggesting that a sequel may not take place surprised many people.
A spokesperson from Legendary, the studio responsible for Detective Pikachu, told Polygon that work on the sequel is still ongoing. When approached by IGN, the spokesperson confirmed the report of active development from Polygon but declined to offer further information.
According to Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez, the writers of “Detective Pikachu,” they are not participating in the sequel’s development. They further explained that the situation is complex due to the corporate rights of Pokémon held by the big studios that they are unaware of. Benji Samit stated that the talks regarding the sequel are still ongoing and have not yet concluded.
In his review for IGN, Joshua Yehl gave “Detective Pikachu” 8 out of 10 ratings. Despite the poor history of video game adaptations in movies, he stated that this film is the best example of how to make one properly.
Due to the lack of supplementary information and The Pokémon Company’s silence regarding their participation in the second film or related projects, many questions remain unanswered. The writers of the Detective Pikachu film have stated that they would like to participate in a sequel.
Recently, in late 2022, Jonathan Murphy, who used to work at Creatures Inc, the studio that created the original Great Detective Pikachu: Birth of a New Duo.”, made a reference on their LinkedIn profile regarding their participation in the development of the sequel. The developer’s work experience section mentions that they have been involved in the project, and it is now “nearing release.” However, the phrase “nearing release” has been changed to “in development” on the profile. This information was initially brought to the attention of FamiBoards.
Detective Pikachu 2 has returned to the forefront of the news after a prolonged period of quiet. In February 2022, the developer Creatures announced that the game was still in active development and that they were working on it, as stated in a website section.
The importance of the recent confirmation of Detective Pikachu 2 being developed stems from the absence of updates or news about the sequel for the past three years. Despite announcing the sequel in 2019, both The Pokémon Company and Creatures have remained silent about its progress and did not mention it in any of the Pokémon Presents events.
The recent information on Jonathan Murphy’s LinkedIn profile has caused excitement among the gaming community as it indicates that Detective Pikachu 2 is near release. The accuracy of this statement is yet to be verified, but it has been confirmed that the sequel’s development is ongoing. Fans are eager to see the story’s conclusion, particularly if it differs from the movie.
Although the release date of Detective Pikachu 2 is still unknown, there is a glimmer of hope, as indicated by the “nearing release” statement on the LinkedIn profile of one of the developers. This statement has sparked global excitement and interest among fans.
One prospective project is not just a movie sequel. Switch users were also made aware of a potential video game sequel in the second half of last year. Even while not much is known about the second game, a job posting from September 2022 indicated that it might be coming soon.
A person might argue that the criticism of the Detective Pikachu” movie is excessive. It features a supporting Pokémon named Psyduck, whose anxiety needs to be controlled, or he will explode. The film exists in a blurred line where it wants to be taken seriously enough to raise questions about its themes and plot, yet at times; it appears to just want to be entertaining for young children.
As a result, the movie is too complex for kids and too shallow for older audiences, leaving little impact or memorable moments. “Detective Pikachu” uses themes such as loss and detachment as mere tools to advance the plot, lacking meaningful substance. The script lacks depth, providing less emotional impact than the Pokémon animated shows.