Detective Pikachu: movie, games and character explained
Separate the 2019 movie from the Detective Pikachu games, identify Tim Goodman and check the current sequel status.
Scope: Detective Pikachu game series and 2019 live-action film · dynamic items checked October 13, 2026
Quick answer
Detective Pikachu is a talking, coffee-loving detective partnered with Tim Goodman. The character began in games, appeared in a separate 2019 live-action adaptation voiced in English by Ryan Reynolds, and returned in the 2023 Nintendo Switch game Detective Pikachu Returns. The film and games share names and concepts but should not be treated as one identical continuity.
Who Detective Pikachu is
Detective Pikachu is a separate Pikachu character who speaks in a deep human voice that Tim Goodman can understand. He investigates cases with Tim in Ryme City and is characterized by detective work and a fondness for coffee. He should not be confused with Ash’s Pikachu or Captain Pikachu.
The 2019 movie
Pokémon Detective Pikachu is a 2019 live-action and computer-animated film directed by Rob Letterman. Ryan Reynolds provides Detective Pikachu’s English voice and Justice Smith plays Tim Goodman. The supplied IMDb listing identifies the released film, its cast and its 2019 date; it is not a listing for either Nintendo game.
The two games
The original Detective Pikachu game established the Tim-and-Pikachu investigation format. Detective Pikachu Returns continued it on Nintendo Switch on October 6, 2023. Nintendo lists the sequel as a single-player adventure developed by Creatures Inc.
▶ Watch official videoMovie sequel status
The reference supplied for this project confirms the 2019 movie but does not itself confirm a release date, title or completed sequel. Until a studio or official movie channel publishes those details, this guide does not turn reports or search-result headlines into a confirmed release.
Sources
Official Pokémon and Nintendo pages anchor current facts. Community references are used to locate version-specific questions, then cross-checked before publication.