Who voices Detective Pikachu in the 2019 film "Pokemon Detective Pikachu"?

Ryan Reynolds voices Detective Pikachu in the 2019 film Pokémon Detective Pikachu.

The movie was the first live-action feature film based on the Pokémon franchise. Reynolds provides the English voice of the talking Pikachu and also supplied facial performance through motion-capture techniques. His recognizable comic timing gives the character a fast-talking, wisecracking personality that contrasts with Pikachu’s traditionally cute and mostly nonverbal image in the main Pokémon games and animated series.

The story follows Tim Goodman, played by Justice Smith, who travels to Ryme City after his father disappears. Tim encounters a Pikachu who can speak to him, although other humans hear only Pikachu’s usual cries. The pair work together to investigate the disappearance and uncover a larger conspiracy involving Pokémon and the city.

Rob Letterman directed the film, which was inspired by the Detective Pikachu video game rather than being a direct adaptation of the original Pokémon games. A common mix-up is assuming Reynolds played a human character; his performance is specifically the English voice and facial performance for the digital Pikachu.