When Ryan Reynolds climbed aboard the live-action Detective Pikachu movie at Warner Bros., we were surprised.
Not because the actor isn’t suited to a voiceover role – far from it, in fact – but because Reynolds was coming fresh off Deadpool 2, and the transition from raunchy, R-rated action to family-friendly comedy seemed… stark. And yet, the excitement for Detective Pikachu will tell you that moviegoers are eagerly anticipating the moment when Reynolds and Co. breathe new life into the iconic Nintendo franchise.
But what if Detective Pikachu took a different course? What if we slipped into another dimension and Warner Bros. were instead releasing an adult-oriented version of the famed pocket monster? Well, it turns out the soon-to-be-released project has enough outtakes to create a full-blown R-rated version, as Reynolds tells ComicBook.com:
A whole bunch of us took passes on the script. I also took a pass on the script. We all got to kind of shape it the way we wanted. I got to make sure that the voice sort of worked the way I think could work for me. Inevitably I’m at the mercy of the filmmakers. But it’s motion capture, so it’s all imagination. You go into a room, I’m alone basically…and then it’s just throwing like 800 versions of any joke or any moment up against a wall and leaving it to some poor editor to sort of figure out…Some things would come out a little PG-13, bordering on Rated R. That stuff didn’t make it.
I think if you could remake a Pikachu version of Mean Streets though, that might be kind of fun. Or Goodfellas.
The fan-favorite actor went on to elaborate on the creative process involved in a movie like Detective Pikachu, and why it allows for experimentation during the actual production. The trick? To remain within the boundaries of a PG-13, even if his gut said otherwise.
The great thing about this world is that you can be totally edgy and totally push it, and still stay within the boundaries of a movie that you can take little kids to and adults. That was the trick.
Back in the realm of reality, though, and Detective Pikachu is expected to launch this coming weekend (it’s already made its global debut in Japan), and analysts are predicting a strong $50 million opening in North America.