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
https://twitter.com/meganportorreal/status/938558099954298881
@VancityReynolds is an unexpected and insane choice to play #DetectivePikachu. https://t.co/AXFk5cWJmq
— Bill Kuchman (@billkuchman) December 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/pettycommajared/status/938566370920316928
https://twitter.com/ColdmanHot/status/938562263929294848
So @VancityReynolds is Detective Pikachu? Mind blown. pic.twitter.com/5hOPwiiMRc
— Bulbagarden – The original Pokémon community (@Bulbagarden) December 7, 2017