Detective Pikachu Moves From Universal to Warner Bros.

Detective Pikachu has a new studio to call home. The Pokemon-themed film is moving from Universal to Warner Bros., per a report from THR, in a move that is part of a larger negotiation between the studios. It could see all of Legendary Entertainment‘s films with Universal go back to Warner Bros., which was Legendary’s home studio for several years.

Legendary’s deal with Universal expires at the end of this year, and several studios are looking to partner with them. However, THR reports that Warners has the edge. Legendary’s time with Universal saw several financial disappointments including Dracula Untold, Blackhat, Crimson Peak, Warcraft, Steve Jobs and Pacific Rim: Uprising, though there were some big hits too such as Jurassic World and Straight Outta Compton. Legendary and Universal’s latest film is Dwayne Johnson’s Skyscraper, which is underperforming in the US but could ultimately be successful thanks to international grosses.

Detective Pikachu will retain its May 10th, 2019 release date. It stars Ryan Reynolds as the voice of Pikachu alongside Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Ken Watanabe, Suki Waterhouse, Rita Ora and Bill Nighy. Smith stars as a teen whose father is kidnapped which leads him to Reynolds’ Pikachu and Kathryn Newton as a young journalist who team up in order to find him.