The live-action film Detective Pikachu was released in 2019. Its official title is Pokémon Detective Pikachu, and it is based on the 2016 Nintendo 3DS game Detective Pikachu.
The film stars Ryan Reynolds as the voice of Detective Pikachu and Justice Smith as Tim Goodman. The story follows Tim as he investigates the disappearance of his father, Harry Goodman, with help from a Pikachu who can speak to him but sounds like a hard-boiled detective.
Directed by Rob Letterman, the film combines live-action human characters with computer-generated Pokémon. It was notable as the first Pokémon film to use live-action filmmaking as its main visual format, rather than being an animated feature.
The movie is separate from the main anime continuity and does not retell Ash Ketchum's story. Its setting, character designs, and plot draw from the Detective Pikachu game while introducing a new cinematic version of Ryme City.