If you’ve noticed people staggering blindly around the street, staring at their phones, occasionally shouting things like “get back here, you bloody Zubat!”, you will have borne witness to the phenomenon that is Pokémon Go. The Japanese creature-collecting franchise, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, has experienced a revival with its new smartphone app – and now Hollywood has come a-sniffing.
It’s not even (officially) out in the UK yet, but Pokémon Go is already a worldwide sensation, using augmented reality technology to allow players to catch Pikachu et al in real-world locations. Nintendo’s stock jumped by $9 billion shortly after the game’s release last week, and now Legendary Pictures (the studio behind Warcraft and Godzilla) are looking to adapt it into live-action form.
According to Deadline, Chronicle writer Max Landis is favourite to write the screenplay, but no director is yet attached. It’s not the first on-screen rodeo for Pokémon, with at least twelve films produced since the audaciously-titled Pokémon: The First Movie. Any opportunity to turn the series into a lucrative cinematic franchise would be hungrily accepted by any studio.
It’s all still extremely early days, considering Pokémon Go has only been out for seven days. More solid news beyond rumour and hearsay is surely soon to come. Keep your Poké Balls on standby.