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Netflix is making a live-action Pokémon TV show

By Dan Selcke

HANOI, VIETNAM - MAY 31: Vietnamese hardcore punk band Cut Lon in modified Pikachu dresses performs their set while live streaming within The Global Bandemic, a free live stream music festival on Facebook featuring 21 bands from 14 countries around the world playing continuously in the course of 2 days, on May 31, 2020 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Though some restrictions remain in place, Vietnam has lifted the ban on domestic travel, certain entertainment facilities and non-essential businesses to revive its economy. As of May 31, Vietnam has confirmed 328 cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19 ) with no deaths in the country, 279 fully recovered and no new case caused by community transmission for 44 days. (Photo by Linh Pham/Getty Images)
HANOI, VIETNAM - MAY 31: Vietnamese hardcore punk band Cut Lon in modified Pikachu dresses performs their set while live streaming within The Global Bandemic, a free live stream music festival on Facebook featuring 21 bands from 14 countries around the world playing continuously in the course of 2 days, on May 31, 2020 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Though some restrictions remain in place, Vietnam has lifted the ban on domestic travel, certain entertainment facilities and non-essential businesses to revive its economy. As of May 31, Vietnam has confirmed 328 cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19 ) with no deaths in the country, 279 fully recovered and no new case caused by community transmission for 44 days. (Photo by Linh Pham/Getty Images) /
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Variety reports it’s in the early stages of developing a live-action Pokémon TV show, to be producer by Lucifer showrunner Joe Henderson. Welp, I guess Netflix just won the streaming wars.

Why do I say that? Because Pokémon is very, very, very popular. In fact, it’s the most profitable entertainment franchise in history, beating out other heavy hitters like Star Wars, Mickey Mouse and Friends and Hello Kitty, which is actually in second place. And with so many different incarnations, it’s not hard to see why. Pokémon began life as a series of video games in the late ’90s that’s still going strong today, but it’s long since expanded into movies, TV shows, card games…you name it, Pokémon has done it, and you can buy it.

Up until recently, the Pokémon movies and TV shows have all been animated, but that changed with the 2019 live-action film Detective Pikachu, starring Ryan Reynolds and Justice Smith. Per Variety, the new Netflix show will be a little like that.

Netflix to stomp the competition underfoot with aid of Pikachu

Will the new show adapt the beloved Pokémon TV series that started in the ’90s, headlined by aspiring Pokémon trainer Ash Ketchum? Will it be something brand new? When is it coming out? We don’t know the answers to any of these questions, but with the power of Pokémon in their pockets, I’m betting Netflix will want to get them to us as soon as possible.

Netflix has made a habit of turning animated properties into live-action series of late. There was a poorly received live-action version of the anime Death Note in 2017, and it’s currently working on remakes of Cowboy Bebop and One Piece. It’s found a niche and it’s owning it.

Next. 10 video games that would make great TV shows. dark

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