Ryan Reynolds is set to portray the iconic Pokemon Pikachu in Legendary Pictures' Detective Pikachu, in what is said to be a performance capture role.

Reynolds will star alongside the previously announced Justice Smith and Kathryn Newton.

The film is being directed by Rob Letterman (Goosebumps) and sees Smith’s character teaming up with Pikachu when his father is kidnapped. Newton will play a sassy journalist who helps them on the case.

Detective Pikachu is the first live-action feature from the hugely successful Pokemon franchise and has been scripted by Nicole Perlman (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Alex Hirsch (Gravity Falls).

Source: Press Release