is getting a live-action tv series and finally fans have a name for who will be playing the show’s heroine.
Japanese pop star Nanase Nishino will take on the role of Madoka Agaki, a disillusioned college graduate who moves to the big city to start her career.
The show is called Pocket ni Bōken wo Tsumekonde which translates to Fill Your Pocket With Adventure and is based on the two original games Red and Green – also known as Red and Blue to
Nanase is best known as a member of J-pop group Nogizaka46, who are behind hits like Synchronicity and Influencer and have sold over 18 million CDs in Japan.
In 2018, the 29-year-old left the girl group and has focused on acting and presenting since.
In her announcement, Nanase said she was a and was ‘surprised’ to be offered the lead role.
She said: ‘I was surprised to receive this offer just days after I’d told a friend that I’d like to work on something related to Pokémon someday.
‘I’m very happy because I’m part of the generation that grew up with Pokémon, having played most of the series from the first to the latest.’
Nanase then explained a little more about the plot for this show, which differs to the animated series which is also in production.
‘As the title suggests, the theme of the game is adventure, so you will be able to watch Madoka and her friends evolve over the course of their adventures,’ the singer explained.
‘If you’ve played Pokémon before, you’ll enjoy this show because it’s peppered with little tidbits that will make you think “This is nostalgic”. I think you will enjoy these little tidbits that are scattered throughout.’
Instead of an immersive show set in the world of Pokemon, as every media from to Detective Pikachu has been, this new live-action takes place in the real world.
Nanase’s Modoka is sent an original GameBoy in a care package after she moves to Tokyo alone, reconnecting her with the popular game.
Initial pictures show Nanase holding a super nostalgic yellow GameBoy, indicating this will be a highly meta show.
There’s no word on whether the show will be released outside of Japan for streaming but the first episode airs on October 19 on U-Next for Japanese fans.
