The first-ever live-action Pokémon adventure, Pokémon Detective Pikachu opened last Friday, May 10. The film 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. Aside from Pikachu, the film also showcases a wide array of beloved Pokémon, each with its own unique traits and personality.

Charizard and OMAR CHAPARRO as Sebastian in Legendary Pictures’ and Warner Bros. Pictures’ comedy adventure “POKÉMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Directed by Rob Letterman, 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.

I had the opportunity to talk to Mexican actor Omar Chaparro who plays Sebástian, a Pokémon trainer to fire-breathing dragon Charizard, owner of a clandestine fight club and ex-pop star. This is his first big role in a high budget movie.

Let’s check it out the exclusive video interview:

About the film

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 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; trading card games available in 11 languages with more than 25.7 billion cards purchased; an anime television series in its 21st season that is available 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, that has been downloaded over 850 million times and is enjoyed across the globe by fans of all ages.