No joke.
"The Deadpool star has signed on to star in Legendary’s live-action Pokemon movie, THR has learned. Reynolds joins Justice Smith, who will be seen in the upcoming Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and Big Little Lies actress Kathryn Newton in the movie, titled Detective Pikachu, based on the gaming franchise. Rob Letterman (Goosebumps) is directing the project, which is due to start shooting mid-January in London."
[THR]