Pokémon: Wild Card Announced as Franchise’s 2027 Theatrical Return
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The Pokémon Company has confirmed that its next big-screen outing, Pokémon: Wild Card, will arrive in 2027, marking the franchise's first new theatrical anime feature in several years. The film was unveiled during the closing ceremonies of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, capping off a year already filled with celebrations for the franchise's 30th anniversary. Notably, the teaser trailer breaks from tradition by opening on a Pokémon Trading Card Game duel rather than a conventional Pokémon battle, suggesting the film will weave competitive card play directly into its story.
The announcement ends a seven-year wait since Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, which debuted in Japan in 2020 and reached international audiences via Netflix in 2021. The reveal came immediately after this year's World Championships, which saw top competitors battle across the Trading Card Game, VGC, Pokémon GO and Pokémon UNITE formats, with finals held at Chase Center on Sunday. The Pokémon Company has not yet released cast, plot or further details, but the TCG-focused framing already sets Wild Card apart from previous films in the series.
- Pokémon: Wild Card, a new anime film, is set for 2027
- First theatrical Pokémon movie announced in years, revealed at World Championships
- Teaser centres on the Trading Card Game rather than typical battles
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The Pokémon anime has produced a run of theatrical films since the 1990s, usually released in Japan first before reaching international audiences. Pokémon: Wild Card will be the newest addition, and its confirmation ends a seven-year gap since the last entry, Secrets of the Jungle, which came out in 2020 and 2021. The Pokémon Company, which oversees the games, trading cards and animated spin-offs, is behind the announcement.
The reveal was tied to two bigger moments: the franchise's 30th anniversary celebrations this year, and the Pokémon World Championships, an annual international competition where players face off in the Trading Card Game and video game formats, among others. This year's event was held in San Francisco, with the film announced straight after the championship finals.
The story matters to Pokémon's large global fanbase because theatrical films are a comparatively rare event for the franchise compared with its ongoing games, shows and card releases. Early details suggest this film may put more emphasis on the Trading Card Game than previous movies have, though The Pokémon Company has not yet confirmed cast, plot or other specifics.
Coverage
- Variety — ‘Pokémon: Wild Card’ Movie Sets 2027 Release Date, Drops Anime Teaser Starring Trading Card Game Player
- Collider — New Pokémon Movie Officially Confirmed