Detective Pikachu, which stars Ryan Reynolds as the titular electric mouse, has moved production from Universal Pictures to Warner Bros.
The reason for the move could have something to do with Legendary Productions, which is producing the film, moving back to Warner Bros. as its distribution deal with Universal draws to a close at the end of the year. Ryan Reynolds will still be involved with the film as the voice of Pikachu, but it remains unknown at the moment whether the move will affect the film’s planned release date of May 10, 2019. Warner Bros. will also take a stake in Detective Pikachu.
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Up until 2013, Legendary’s films were distributed by Warner Bros., before Legendary struck up a deal with Universal, with its most recent film, Skyscraper, underperforming domestically at the box office. Over the last four years, Legendary has financed some of Universal’s films (including Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), but if Legendary does go back to Warner Bros., its possible the studio could once again have free reign to choose what movies it would like financed.
(via The Hollywood Reporter)
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