What news could be more fitting for the 25th year of Pokémon than an announcement for a live-action television series?
And just like that, a teeming wave of anticipation rose amongst 90s kids worldwide. As exclusively reported by Variety, the series is currently in its early development stages at Netflix. Joe Henderson (Lucifer, White Collar) is slated to write and serve as an executive producer.
Pokémon (known as Pocket Monsters in Japan) is a Japanese media franchise that debuted with a pair of games developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy system in 1996 — Pokémon Red and Blue.
Now, 25 years and many films, television episodes, trading cards, toys, and countless other collectible items later, Pokémon holds the title of the highest-grossing media franchise of all time. And not only does it hold a special place in the hearts of the now-adults that grew up with it, Pokémon still continues to captivate new generations of children today with its timeless charm.
In 2016, the mobile game Pokémon GO launched, spurring what would be known as the summer we all went outside and walked more than ever before. Nostalgic fans and newcomers alike flocked to the game with enthusiasm, reigniting even more passion for the longstanding franchise.
More recently, in 2019, Pokémon Detective Pikachu landed in theaters. This live-action film is based on the franchise and stars Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, and the one and only Ryan Reynolds as our beloved star Pikachu. It was both exciting and jarring to see Pokémon outside of the animated world that it’s always existed within, and it left fans wanting more. So needless to say, a live-action series is just what we need.
Stay tuned for more news on Netflix’s live-action Pokémon series!
