Ryan Reynolds is trading “Deadpool” red for Pikachu yellow.
Reynolds has booked the lead role in “Detective Pikachu,” a live-action film based on the Japanese media franchise that includes trading cards, video games, numerous TV series and a hugely popular AR-based mobile game.
He’ll play the title character, as The Hollywood reporter first reported. The part seems to be a straight-up voice role as an adorable yellow monster adept at solving mysteries, an individual familiar with the project told TheWrap.
The actor will costar with real live boy Justice Smith, of the Baz Luhrmann Netflix series “The Get Down.”
Reynolds just wrapped production on a sequel to his hugely popular Fox superhero franchise “Deadpool,” which will see him face off villain Josh Brolin. Reynolds is repped by WME.
Universal Pictures has worldwide distribution rights on the project, save Japan.
Read some of the best social media reactions to the casting:
"Ryan Reynolds to Star in Pokemon Movie 'Detective Pikachu'" pic.twitter.com/FgTZPufMYo
— Britton Peele (@BrittonPeele) December 7, 2017
What is even happening #DetectivePikachu https://t.co/7RRshtgjfN
— Megan Portorreal (@meganportorreal) December 6, 2017
@VancityReynolds is an unexpected and insane choice to play #DetectivePikachu. https://t.co/AXFk5cWJmq
— Bill Kuchman (@billkuchman) December 6, 2017
Hello. I like the idea of Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu.
— Jared Petty (@pettycommajared) December 7, 2017
ok here's how Detective Pikachu should end: it turns out Mewtwo mind-swapped a random Pikachu and human Ryan Reynolds
cut to reveal of live-action RR rolling around on the floor screaming PIKACHU
— thom (returning to monkey island) (@ColdmanHot) December 7, 2017
So @VancityReynolds is Detective Pikachu? Mind blown. pic.twitter.com/5hOPwiiMRc
— Bulbagarden – The original Pokémon community (@Bulbagarden) December 7, 2017