Detective Pikachu is planned as the first in a series that will be based on the popular Pokemon franchise, which spans card games, video games, TV series and animated films. There have been 20 Pokemon animated features, beginning with Pokemon: The First Movie — Mewtwo Strikes Back in 1998.

The Detective Pikachu movie has been a priority for Legendary since the company acquired the rights to the Japanese property in July 2016, following the Pokemon Go mobile game craze.

The Pokemon Company's longtime partner, Toho, will handle distribution of Detective Pikachu in Japan. Universal Pictures will handle distribution in all other territories.

Smith, who appeared in the John Green adaptation Paper Towns, will star opposite Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard in Universal's Jurassic World sequel. The actor, who is repped by WME, Khol Group and Sloane Offer, is also set for the MGM feature Every Day.