The Pokémon franchise is making its return to theaters after a seven-year break. The Pokémon Company revealed a brand new animated film, Pokémon: Wild Card, during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco.

How Was the Announcement Made?

Tsunekazu Ishihara, President and CEO of The Pokémon Company, took the stage at a packed Chase Center and shared, "For the first time in seven years, a brand new Pokémon film is on the way." Ishihara stated the film's main character is a Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) player striving to become a champion. Alongside the announcement, a short teaser was released, showing a character in a yellow hoodie resembling Mimikyu and a card game table.

What Is the Movie About?

Wild Card takes a unique approach, stepping away from the series' usual formula. Instead of a traditional Pokémon battle, the film centers on an intense Pokémon Trading Card Game match, with two players facing off at the table. This is the first time card gameplay itself becomes the core of the adventure at this scale. According to the teaser, the film is coming "in 2027 and beyond," hinting at possible future projects.

Who's Behind the Movie?

Director Katsuhiko Kitada is a seasoned name, known for his work on The First Slam Dunk, Attack on Titan, Naruto: Shippuden, Spy x Family, Bocchi the Rock, Lazarus, and Banana Fish. Character designer Akemi Hayashi is also recognized for Banana Fish and Lazarus. Animation is handled by CloverWorks, famous for Spy x Family and Bocchi the Rock.

Why Has It Been So Long?

The last Pokémon film to hit theaters was Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us in 2018, which had a limited international release through Fathom Events. Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, released in 2020, was distributed worldwide via Netflix instead of theaters. Wild Card will mark the franchise's true return to global theatrical release.

2027 Will Be a Big Year for Pokémon

Wild Card isn't coming alone. That same year, a new Pokémon series called The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd and Pichu will debut on Disney+ and DisneyXD. Plus, the tenth-generation games "Winds" and "Waves" are set to launch next year, making 2027 a packed year for the Pokémon brand.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Pokémon: Wild Card releasing?

The film is scheduled for worldwide theatrical release in 2027, but an exact date hasn't been announced yet.

What is the movie about?

Wild Card follows a Pokémon Trading Card Game player aiming to become a champion, offering a fresh take compared to the series' usual battle-focused stories.

When was the last Pokémon movie in theaters?

The last globally released Pokémon film in theaters was The Power of Us in 2018. Secrets of the Jungle in 2020 was released exclusively on Netflix.