Ryan Reynolds has been added to the cast of Detective Pikachu. Reynolds will play the titular Pokemon in a role that requires motion capture according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Reynolds’ Detective Pikachu will help the human lead, who is played by The Get Down’s Justice Smith (see “'Daphne and Velma,' Steampunk 'Oz,' 'Danger Girl,' 'Detective Pikachu,' 'The Kitchen,' 'Super Mario'”), in the hunt for his kidnapped father. Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies) will play a plucky reporter who helps Pikachu and his human charge.

The script was written by Alex Hirsch (Gravity Falls) and Nicole Perlman (Guardians of the Galaxy). Goosebumps director Rob Letterman is directing the film for Legendary (see “'Pokemon' Movie Gets a Director”), but a release date is yet to be announced. Toho is handling Japanese distribution while Universal is distributing the film outside of Japan.

Reynolds’ next outing as the Merc With a Mouth hits the big screen on June 1 (see “'Deadpool 2' Teaser 'Wet on Wet'”).