‘Pokémon’ Live-Action Series In Works At

Netflix is working on a live-action Pokemon series and Lucifer co-showrunner and EP Joe Henderson is attached to write the series and executive produce.

As the project is still in its early days, no details are available neither plot details nor casting plans in place. Netflix and reps for Henderson would not comment.

The move to develop an original Netflix Pokemon series comes as the streamer has made itself the home to multiple existing Pokemon shows, including “Pokemon: Indigo League” and “Pokemon Journeys” among others. Pokémon is considered the most successful video game adaptation of all time, with over 1000 episodes broadcast and adapted for international television markets, concurrently airing in 169 countries worldwide. The franchise inspired the first-ever live-action Pokémon movie, 2019’s Detective Pikachu, starring Ryan Reynolds and Justice Smith. The film was a box office success, grossing over $430 million worldwide.The Pokemon franchise as a whole has become a worldwide phenomenon since first launching in 1995. The franchise now encompasses multiple television shows, films, video games, the trading card game, books, manga comics, and much more.

Netflix has also been making a strong push into anime in recent years, having previously announced original series based on “Far Cry,” “Splinter Cell,” and “Terminator.” Netflix has been moving into more live-action adaptations of anime titles as well, including the upcoming “Cowboy Bebop” and “One Piece” live-action shows. The streamer previously released a live-action “Death Note” film in 2017.

The Japanese franchise, created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1995, is centered on fictional creatures called “Pokémon”. In Pokémon, humans, known as Pokémon Trainers, catch and train Pokémon to battle other Pokémon for sport.