I have to say, the title Detective Pikachu doesn’t give me an awful lot of faith in the planned live-action Pikachu, but perhaps the film itself won’t be as embarrassingly cheesy as that makes it sound. Indeed, there’s a good chance it’ll get a different name by the time it reaches cinema.
It has moved a step closer to getting made though, as Variety reports that Rob Letterman has signed on to direct. To be honest, his back catalogue causes a little trepidation too, as the likes of Shark Tale, Gulliver’s Travels, and Goosebumps aren’t exactly masterpieces.
Nicole Perlman and Alex Hirsch wroted the script for the movie, which its believed Legendary Pictures wants to get made as quickly as possible, to hopefully capitalise on the renewed popularity of the franchise following the release of the Pokemon Go app.
A film version of RL Stein’s Goosebumps series has been on the cards for quite a while, but now it’s finally moving forward with the news that Jack Black is in negotiations to star. If he does sign up, the actor will reunite with his Gulliver’s Travels and Shark Tale director Rob Letterman, according to 
R.L. Stein’s Goosebumps is one of the most successful book series in history, selling more than 300 million copies worldwide. It’s surprising therefore that Hollywood hasn’t made a movie version before now – although it’s not for lack of trying, as it’s been mooted for years.
There seems to be a bit of a craze at the moment for directors who made their name in animation to take their first steps into the live-action arena. Whether its Brad Bird (The Incredibles) with Mission: Impossible IV, Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo) with John Carter or Phil Lord & Chris Miller (Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs) with 21 Jump Street.