According to Deadline, Legendary Pictures is moving toward a deal to land the rights to make a live-action Pokemon film. The 20+ year old pocket monster game from Japan – which started in the video game world and inspired trading cards and animated movies – is once again hot property, in light of the recently-launched ultra-popular augmented reality mobile app Pokémon GO which has led to a $9 billion 25% stock price jump for Nintendo. Max Landis (Chronicle) has been rumored to pen the screenplay.
Acquiring the rights to Pokemon would be another feather in Legendary’s cap for videogame-based features. Its recently released feature film Warcarft was a blockbuster in China and has pulled in $430 million worldwide.
We will keep you posted as new developments arise.