After The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Another Game Adaptation Needs a Sequel

Video game adaptations have been enjoying a renaissance over the last few years. Movies based on Mario, Sonic, and Minecraft have generated huge money at the box office, while shows adapting The Last of Us and Fallout have seen impressive viewership numbers. This has resulted in studios actively pursuing the rights to any gaming property that might be the next big thing. Pokémon: Detective Pikachu was one of the most successful video game movies of the last decade, but for some strange reason it has yet to receive a sequel. With studios all looking for the next big game to adapt, it feels like the time is finally right to bring Detective Pikachu back.

In 2019, Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. released the first live-action film based on the Pokémon property. Several animated Pokémon movies had been released in theaters in the years prior, but Detective Pikachu was a live-action movie that combined impressive CGI designs with the use of motion capture. Detective Pikachu sequel rumors have circulated for years, but it seems increasingly unlikely as time goes on. Even still, considering how successful The Super Mario Galaxy Movie was, it’s the perfect time for a Detective Pikachu sequel.

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Detective Pikachu Hit All the Right Notes

When Pokémon: Detective Pikachu was first announced, it seemed like an unusual direction. Rather than adapting one of the mainline games in the series, the movie focused on the events of a spin-off entry. Instead of focusing on familiar characters like Ash Ketchum and Team Rocket, the Detective Pikachu video game and movie featured human protagonist Tim Goodman. Tim’s detective father has gone missing and is presumed dead, and the only lead in the case is his partner Pikachu, who has mysteriously gained the ability to speak with Tim. The source material was an unusual choice, but it helped set the movie apart from other Pokémon media while still incorporating some of the franchise’s most beloved elements.

There are a lot of reasons that Detective Pikachu was a smart game for director Rob Letterman to adapt. The Ryme City setting gave the movie a location that could naturally include a vast number of Pokémon, while still feeling accurate to the world presented in the games. That meant viewers could see older favorites like Charizard and Mewtwo, as well as more recent additions like Greninja. Faithfully translating the Pokémon designs to the big screen likely proved challenging for the filmmakers, but the movie added just a few additional details like scales and fur. The resulting Pokémon models still felt familiar, with enough changes that helped them blend in with the live-action elements.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

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Pikachu has been one of the most recognizable mascots in the world since 1996, and faithfully depicting it on the big screen was more important than anything else. Not only did the design work, but Ryan Reynolds gave a wildly fun performance. The coffee-addicted electric mouse was even more entertaining than he was in the Detective Pikachu video game, providing a mix of heart and humor. Pikachu needed to get the majority of the focus, but the movie still gave lots of other fan-favorites a chance to shine. Mr. Mime even got a scene-stealing moment, leading to a rise in popularity for one of the most underrated Pokémon.

If there’s one mistake Detective Pikachu made, it’s that the movie didn’t provide any kind of setup for a sequel. Movies like Sonic the Hedgehog and The Super Mario Movie offered tantalizing hints for their follow-ups, but Detective Pikachu failed to do just that. The decision is even stranger considering the first Detective Pikachu video game ended on a cliffhanger, with the resolution coming years later in a sequel. Because of this unusual release schedule, the Detective Pikachu movie actually ended up spoiling the ending for the game’s sequel. Had the filmmakers decided to similarly break up the story, it probably could have resulted in a natural continuation. It’s great that the film told a complete story, but it probably made it a challenge to develop a sequel building off what had already been established.

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Why Isn’t There a Detective Pikachu 2 Yet?

Given that Detective Pikachu‘s story ended with the protagonist returning to his non-speaking state, it’s hard to imagine how a sequel movie might work. Tim Goodman actor Justice Smith has frequently shared his enthusiasm about returning for Detective Pikachu 2, but the current state of the movie remains unknown. It’s possible that a direct sequel could still be released one day, or that The Pokémon Company could decide to go with an entirely different live-action take on the brand. There have been no shortage of Pokémon games and spin-offs over the years, so it is possible there could eventually be an adaptation of Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, or something else entirely.

GameRant Quiz

Easy (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)Permadeath (5s)

Pokémon is one of the biggest entertainment franchises in the world, and the popularity of the video games, TCG, and merchandise is higher than at any point in its 30-year history. Another live-action Pokémon movie would seem like a priority, but that has not been the case. Pokémon does have a luxury that many other properties don’t have, in that the franchise is so big that it doesn’t have as much to gain from a movie’s release. Publishers see movies as a way to draw new audiences to their existing games, and Pokémon games don’t need any help finding new players right now. Hopefully, though, another live-action Pokémon movie happens at some point in the future, since it’s clear that audiences are clamoring for good game adaptations after The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.