Pokémon Detective Pikachu 2 (2025) – Speculative Overview

Following the success of Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019), fans have eagerly awaited news of a sequel. The original film, based on the Pokémon franchise and inspired by the Detective Pikachu video game, combined live-action with CGI to bring the world of Pokémon to life. Its mix of humor, mystery, and nostalgia captured audiences, and a sequel promises to build on that foundation while expanding the Pokémon universe.

1. Potential Plot Directions

1.1 A New Mystery

• The sequel could explore a brand-new mystery involving a different case that requires Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) and Pikachu to team up once again. The story might delve deeper into the connection between humans and Pokémon in Ryme City.
• The disappearance of another significant character, a mysterious Pokémon-related crime syndicate, or a new legendary Pokémon could serve as the central conflict.

1.2 The Return of Harry Goodman

• With the mystery of Tim’s father, Harry Goodman (Ryan Reynolds), resolved in the first film, Detective Pikachu 2 could explore Harry’s reintegration into Ryme City. Perhaps Harry, now separate from Pikachu, faces a moral or legal challenge related to his time fused with the Pokémon.

1.3 Legendary Pokémon and the Multiverse

• Legendary or mythical Pokémon, such as Mewtwo (who played a major role in the first film), could return to introduce a larger-scale conflict. The story might involve multiversal elements, allowing alternate Pokémon worlds to collide.
• Pokémon like Celebi or Dialga, ᴀssociated with time and space, could play a pivotal role in a time-traveling or dimension-hopping adventure.

1.4 A Villainous Team

• The sequel could introduce an organized group of villains, such as Team Rocket or a new evil organization, attempting to exploit Pokémon for profit or power. This would allow for dynamic Pokémon battles and the reintroduction of iconic villains like Jessie, James, and Meowth.

2. Returning Characters

• Tim Goodman (Justice Smith): The protagonist, now more confident in his role as a detective or aspiring Pokémon trainer, could lead the new case.
• Detective Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds): Although Harry Goodman is no longer fused with Pikachu, a talking Pikachu could return through a comedic or mysterious twist, perhaps involving psychic Pokémon like Mewtwo.
• Lucy Stevens (Kathryn Newton): Lucy’s investigative journalism skills would likely play a significant role in uncovering the truth behind the new mystery.
• Ryme City Pokémon: Familiar Pokémon like Psyduck, Charizard, and Greninja might return, alongside a host of new fan-favorites.

3. New Characters

• New Pokémon Partners: Tim or Lucy might team up with additional Pokémon, such as Eevee, Meowth, or a Gen 9 Pokémon, introducing fresh dynamics to the story.
• Legendary or Mythical Pokémon: Pokémon like Lugia, Celebi, or Zygarde could be integral to the plot, bringing epic stakes to the sequel.
• A New Villain: A shadowy figure or organization exploiting Pokémon or manipulating humans could serve as a central antagonist, creating tension and stakes.

4. Themes

• Friendship and Trust: The bond between humans and Pokémon remains a central theme, exploring how they work together to solve mysteries and overcome challenges.
• Environmental and Ethical Concerns: The film could delve into issues like Pokémon conservation, the ethics of Pokémon battles, or the dangers of exploiting Pokémon for profit.
• Personal Growth: Tim’s journey as a detective or trainer could highlight themes of responsibility, perseverance, and self-discovery.

5. Tone and Style

• Humor and Heart: The sequel would retain the lighthearted humor and emotional moments that made the first film endearing to audiences of all ages.
• Visual Spectacle: With advancements in CGI, the Pokémon world could be brought to life with even more detail and creativity, showcasing new Pokémon in action.
• Action and Mystery: Dynamic Pokémon battles, high-stakes chases, and clever clues would maintain the tension and excitement of the original film.

6. Audience Expectations

• Nostalgia: Long-time fans of the Pokémon franchise will expect nods to the games, TV series, and trading cards, as well as appearances by beloved Pokémon.
• New Pokémon Generations: The sequel could introduce Pokémon from newer generations, especially from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.
• Expanded World-Building: Fans will want to see more of the Pokémon world, including different cities, regions, or ecosystems.
• More Talking Pokémon: Whether through another twist or new characters, audiences might hope for additional Pokémon with unique voices and personalities.

7. Challenges

• Balancing Nostalgia with Innovation: While fans love callbacks to the Pokémon they grew up with, the sequel must also bring fresh elements to the table to avoid feeling repeтιтive.
• Maintaining Tone: The first film balanced comedy, heart, and mystery. The sequel must replicate this balance while raising the stakes and expanding the universe.
• Appealing to All Audiences: The film must continue to appeal to both long-time Pokémon fans and newcomers who enjoyed the first movie’s humor and story.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

---

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.