For fans waiting for the sequel to ‘Detective Pikachu,’ Justice Smith, who played the human lead in the 2019 blockbuster, told ScreenRant in a new interview that he has yet to be contacted about a potential follow-up movie.
‘Detective Pikachu’ was released in May 2019 and grossed $450 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing video game film adaptation at the time. Despite this commercial success, it seems the future of ‘Detective Pikachu 2’ remains unclear. In the interview, Smith expressed his uncertainty, stating:
“I have not heard of any movement. I mean, I know what was released online, but no one has called me. So I’m just waiting for that call.”
This news comes despite the development of a sequel being previously confirmed.
Will There Be a ‘Detective Pikachu 2’ Movie?
‘Detective Pikachu‘ was the first live-action Pokémon film and the first live-action film based on a Nintendo game property since 1993. Directed by Rob Letterman, the film starred Ryan Reynolds as the voice and facial motion capture of Pikachu, alongside Smith, Kathryn Newton, and other actors.
Legendary Entertainment initially announced the development of a sequel in January 2019, with Oren Uziel signed on as the screenwriter. However, in 2021, Smith argued that the chances for a sequel are low. Still, he was hopeful for the future.
In March 2023, it was announced that Jonathan Krisel would direct the sequel, with Chris Galletta writing the screenplay. Despite these developments, neither Smith nor Ryan Reynolds has been confirmed to reprise their roles.
A representative from Legendary Entertainment reaffirmed in February 2023 that the sequel was ‘in active development.’ However, Smith’s recent comments suggest that if the sequel is moving forward, it might be with changes, possibly including a new cast of characters.
Meanwhile, Justice Smith continues his career with upcoming projects like ‘Young Lust,‘ ‘Floodplain,‘ and ‘If She Burns.‘
