Some Fans Don't Want The Pokemon Live-Action Netflix Show
Ash Ketchum is ready to turn his hat around, as Netflix is reportedly working on a Pokemon live-action Netflix show. 2021 marks a milestone 25 years since we first stepped into Pallet Town and were left with the life-changing choice of Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle.
While the celebrations continue with the likes of Pokemon Arceus, and Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the birthday bonanza might not end there.
Although some are still waiting for the live-action Detective Pikachu 2, it looks like our hopes have been dashed in favour of a Netflix series. Not everyone is convinced, though.
What do we know about a Pokemon live-action Netflix show?
According to Variety, a Pokemon live-action Netflix show is in the works from Lucifer showrunner and Executive Producer, Joe Henderson. Details are thin on the ground, but sources claim it will be in a similar vein to 2019's Detective Pikachu that starred Ryan Reynolds as that electric mouse and Justice Smith as his human companion.
Worryingly, the news that the mythical Pokemon live-action Netflix show isn't tied to Detective Pikachu suggests that plans for a proposed sequel could've been scrapped. Although the movie is currently the second-highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time, Smith told Inverse in May, "I think we have to just kind of bury our hopes. I don't think it's going to happen".
There's no word on what the plot of the Netflix show would involve, whether the Pokemon will be CGI or practical, and who could star. With Netflix wrangling Hollywood talent like Henry Cavill for The Witcher, we'd guess an equally big star could lead the Pokemon series. The question is, will we retell Ash's story, or will someone new step up to the plate?
What have fans said about a Pokemon live-action Netflix show?
Safe to say, Pokefans were split down the middle. While some love the idea of getting to see Pikachu and the rest of those adorable Pocket Monsters in live-action, others were worried we're going to go down the Riverdale route.
It's no secret that recent Netflix adaptations like Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina have been a weird hybrid of murder mysteries and teen drama. To be fair, Detective Pikachu could also be accused of adopting these tropes.
Namely, fans were worried that Netflix is the wrong place to handle a live-action Pokemon series. Netflix is already home to shows including Pokemon: Indigo League and Pokemon Journeys, but a move away from anime is a very different story. Then again, the streaming giant is already branching further into video games with Far Cry and Splinter Cell shows.
One sceptic simply wrote, "Please Netflix keep the designs of the Pokemon from Detective Pikachu. Don’t fix what’s not broken", while another added, "Tell Nintendo and GameFreak to back out of this ASAP. They're going to make a MASSIVE mistake. Netflix only cares about 3 things and those 3 things aren't meant for kids. They've already tried butchering The Powerpuff Girls and ruining Avatar. Stop this".
However, there were supporters. One hopeful trainer wrote, "I have faith in the live action Pokémon Netflix series especially after seeing what Detective Pikachu was like overall and I imagine this new show at the very least will be fun to watch so I’ll remain to be optimistic about it until further information is announced".
Another open-minded Pokefan concluded, "You know, I would say this sounds like a messy idea, but I said that about Detective Pikachu, which turned out to be pretty good. So yeah, I want to see how this turns out. At worst, kids will enjoy it, and at best, i can have a nostalgic treat with the show I grew up with". Like it lump it, it sounds like Netflix is polishing its Pokeballs and has its sights set on Indigo Plateau in the near future.
