Pokémon GO Celebrates Eagerly Awaited Theatrical Release of “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” with Specially Themed Content

New In-Game Experiences Offer Players and Moviegoers More Ways to
Immerse Themselves in the Pokémon Universe Starting May 7

BELLEVUE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In celebration of the upcoming release of the first-ever live-action
Pokémon adventure, “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu,” in theaters beginning
May 10, The Pokémon Company International, in collaboration with
Niantic, Inc., Warner Bros. Pictures, and Legendary Pictures, announced
a variety of movie-inspired in-game activities and content coming soon
to Pokémon GO. Players can look forward to catching a Pikachu wearing a
detective hat after getting photobombed by the Pokémon, more encounters
with select Pokémon featured in the film, special Raid Battles and Field
Research, and more.

“POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” has generated significant buzz among fans
and theatergoers. The highly anticipated film will premiere in North
American theaters on May 10, 2019, and across additional markets
throughout Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific starting this
month.

“We’re excited for fans around the world to immerse themselves in the
latest Pokémon adventure with ‘POKÉMON Detective Pikachu,’” said J.C.
Smith, senior director of consumer marketing at The Pokémon Company
International. “We look forward to celebrating the first live-action
film with fun new experiences in Pokémon GO.”

From May 7 through May 17, 2019, the following content will be available
in Pokémon GO for a limited time:

• Detective Hat Pikachu Photobomb—While using GO Snapshot, fans
  may get photobombed by a Pikachu wearing a detective hat and then be
  able to catch the Pokémon.
• More Encounters with Pokémon Seen in the Movie—Pokémon such as
  Bulbasaur, Jigglypuff, Psyduck, Aipom, and Snubbull, among others,
  will appear more frequently in the game. Players may also have
  opportunities to catch Shiny Aipom.
• Special Raid Battles and Field Research—Players will be able to
  participate in Raid Battles that challenge Pokémon with starring roles
  in the film, as well as movie-inspired Field Research.
• New Avatar Items—Fans will be able to customize their in-game
  avatars with movie-themed items, including a detective hat with
  Pikachu ears and a T-shirt featuring the “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu”
  logo.

To learn more about the movie-inspired in-game content, watch the
following video: https://youtu.be/IclGJipLBBA.
For additional details about Pokémon GO, visit pokemongolive.com.
More information about “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” can be found at www.detectivepikachumovie.com
and www.pokemon.com.

About Pokémon

The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company
in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for
brand management, licensing and marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card
Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official
Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one
of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world.
For more information, visit www.pokemon.com.

About Niantic, Inc.

Niantic, Inc., is the world’s leading Augmented Reality and mobile
real-world company, building engaging applications that merge
cutting-edge technology with gaming experiences that foster exploration,
discovery, and social interaction. Originally incubated within Google,
Niantic spun out in 2015 with investments from Google, The Pokémon
Company, and Nintendo. The company closed $245 million in Series C
funding in January 2019 from IVP, aXiomatic Gaming, Battery Ventures,
Causeway Media Partners, CRV and Samsung Ventures. Prior financing
includes $200 million in 2017 from Spark Capital, Founders Fund,
Meritech, Javelin Venture Partners, You & Mr. Jones and NetEase, Inc,
and a follow-on from Alsop Louie Partners. The company’s immersive Real
World Platform powers the ground-breaking AR games Pokémon GO and
Ingress, which are available on the App Store and Google Play. Harry
Potter: Wizard’s Unite is Niantic, Inc.’s upcoming third game,
co-developed with WB Games. For more information on Niantic, visit www.nianticlabs.com.

About “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu”

The first-ever live-action Pokémon adventure, “POKÉMON Detective
Pikachu” stars Ryan Reynolds as Detective Pikachu and is based on the
beloved Pokémon brand—one of the world’s most popular, multi-generation
entertainment properties and one of the most successful media franchises
of all time. Fans everywhere can now experience a Pikachu on the big
screen as never before, as Detective Pikachu, a Pokémon like no other.
The film also showcases a wide array of beloved Pokémon, each with its
own unique traits and personality.

The story begins when ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously
missing, prompting his 21-year-old son Tim to find out what happened.
Aiding in the investigation is Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective
Pikachu: a hilariously wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth who is a
puzzlement even to himself. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to
work together, as Tim is the only human who can talk with Detective
Pikachu, they join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the
tangled mystery. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of
Ryme City—a sprawling, modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live
side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world—they encounter a
diverse cast of Pokémon and uncover a shocking plot that could destroy
this peaceful co-existence and threaten the whole Pokémon universe.

“POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” also stars Justice Smith as Tim, and Kathryn
Newton as Lucy, a junior reporter following her first big story; as well
as Suki Waterhouse, Omar Chaparro, Chris Geere, and Rita Ora, with Oscar
nominee Ken Watanabe and Bill Nighy.

The film was directed by Rob Letterman, from a story by Dan Hernandez &
Benji Samit and Nicole Perlman, screenplay by Dan Hernandez & Benji
Samit and Rob Letterman and Derek Connolly, based on the “Detective
Pikachu” video game developed by Creatures Inc. It was produced by Mary
Parent and Cale Boyter for Legendary Pictures, and Hidenaga Katakami and
Don McGowan for The Pokémon Company. Executive producers were Joe
Caracciolo, Jr., Ali Mendes, Tsunekazu Ishihara, Kenji Okubo, Toshio
Miyahara, Hiro Matsuoka, and Koji Ueda.

Letterman’s creative filmmaking team includes two-time Oscar nominated
director of photography John Mathieson, production designer Nigel
Phelps, editors Mark Sanger and James Thomas, and costume designer Suzie
Harman. The music is composed by Henry Jackman. Visual effects are by
Moving Picture Company and Framestore.

Launched in 1996 to overwhelming response, the Pokémon brand is a global
sensation that now encompasses a robust video gaming fandom with over
324 million units sold worldwide; a trading card game available in 11
languages with more than 25.7 billion cards purchased; an animated
television series in its 22nd season that is available in more than 160
countries; and over 20 animated films; as well as books, manga comics,
music, toys, merchandise, and apps, including the wildly popular Pokémon
GO, which has been downloaded over 850 million times and is enjoyed
across the globe by fans of all ages.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures present a Legendary
Pictures Production, in association with Toho Co., Ltd, a Rob Letterman
Film, “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu.” It will be distributed outside of
Japan and China by Warner Bros. Pictures, in Japan by Toho Company, Ltd.
and by Legendary East in China. It is rated PG for “action/peril, some
rude and suggestive humor, and thematic elements.”

Contacts

TriplePoint PR for The Pokémon Company International
Gentry Henry
pokemon@triplepointpr.com