Pokémon is finally dropping a new movie, and it’s all about the TCG. The crowd at the 2026 Pokémon World Championships got an exclusive first look at Pokémon: Wild Card. Set for release in “2027 and beyond,” the upcoming feature-length film marks the franchise’s return to animated movies after seven years. Not only that, but it’s also the first Pokémon film to focus on the TCG.
The Pokémon Company dropped the first trailer for the movie at the 2026 Pokémon World Championships. The teaser shows a TCG player and his Mimikyu, playing in a cyberpunk-esque setting. “When the time comes to put their cards on the table, will they have what it takes to achieve their goals?” reads the teaser for the film. Stay tuned for more details on the movie.
Pokémon: Wild Card brings the TCG to the silver screen for the first time
Taking on the helm of the movie is director Katsuhiko Kitada, who has previously worked on Attack on Titan, Naruto: Shippuden, I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, and more. Character design is led by Akemi Hayashi, with experience from Lazarus, Violet Evergarden, and the Rebuild of Evangelion series. The movie will be produced by CloverWorks and Story Inc., which previously worked on Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume.
Just like the title, the upcoming movie is going to be a bit of a wild card for the franchise. While the TCG has been booming in popularity in recent years, this will be the first film to focus on the TCG. Moreover, it will be the first film to not star Ash Ketchum, who has been the protagonist of the Pokémon franchise since the anime first debuted in 1997.
And being a movie about the Pokémon TCG, there is already speculation on whether there will be exclusive cards to promote the film. While some are worried this might invite more scalpers to a TCG community already filled with collectors, others are excited it will introduce the gameplay to more people.
Read the official announcement of the movie here.
Images: Pokémon
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
