Casting Misty For A Live-Action Pokémon Movie: 10 Actors Who'd Be Perfect

May 4, 2024, 4:35 p.m.

Movies

Casting Misty For A Live-Action Pokémon Movie: 10 Actors Who'd Be Perfect

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Summary Misty's role in a live-action Pokemon movie requires a strong actor to bring her Gym Leader and Water Type expertise to life.

Ella Purnell's experience as Lucy in Fallout showcases her potential to play Misty with resourcefulness and character development.

Lovie Simone Oppong, with her determination and chemistry with co-stars, could embody Misty's courageous character in Pokemon.

The TV shows, movies, and video games that have brought the Pokémon franchise to life have featured Misty as a main character, and casting her role for a live-action movie requires a great actor. Though the film Detective Pikachu depicted the most iconic Pokémon, Pikachu, in live-action, it didn't follow the story of Ash and his journey to become a Pokémon Master. In the TV show that began in 1997, Ash was accompanied by several companies as he traveled and competed in tournaments, including Misty. Misty is a Gym Leader and specializes in training Water Type Pokémon.

Any performer who takes on her role will need to be a strong foil for the actor who plays Ash and fully immerse the audience in the Pokémon world.

Some of Misty's classic characteristics are her connection to her family who owns a gym, and her stubbornness. Some of Misty's strongest Pokémon in the anime series prove what an excellent trainer she is. Any performer who takes on her role will need to be a strong foil for the actor who plays Ash and fully immerse the audience in the Pokémon world. Though Misty is canonically ten years old in the show, a live-action version would likely age up the characters to allow them to participate in more intense battles.

Watch Pokémon The Series: Indigo League on Netflix.

Related Every Pokémon Movie In Order (And The Best Way To Watch Them) There are many animated Pokémon movies which have been released over the franchise's 25 year run. Here's the proper order to watch them.

10 Ella Purnell

Known for Fallout (2024 - Present) & Yellowjackets (2021 - Present)

Fallout Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Based on the video game franchise of the same name, Fallout is a drama series set in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. The series follows the survivors of the human race in an alternate 1950s timeline, where nuclear war laid waste to the Earth, spawning large irradiated areas and mutated humans who now roam the planet. Cast Walton Goggins , Ella Purnell , Kyle MacLachlan , Xelia Mendes-Jones , Aaron Moten Release Date April 10, 2024 Seasons 1 Franchise(s) Fallout Showrunner Lisa Joy , Jonathan Nolan

Ella Purnell has been in the public eye for a long time with her early role in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, but her most recent project has catapulted her to major fame. She stars as Lucy in the Prime Video TV adaptation of the popular video game series Fallout. Though Purnell might be too old to play a teenager at this point, her performance as Lucy is a great comp for how she would play Misty. Lucy is resourceful, skilled in battle, and goes through intense character development that drastically alters her worldview by the show's end.

With the success of Fallout Purnell's star is only rising, and well the show is sure to keep her busy for many more seasons, seeing her in another film would be a great way to capitalize on this momentum.

The characters in Pokémon don't face the devastation of a post-apocalyptic world and the terrors of nuclear fallout, but that doesn't mean they don't face challenges. Though it's an animated children's show, the characters evolve, allowing actors to flex their dramatic muscles. With the success of Fallout Purnell's star is only rising, and well the show is sure to keep her busy for many more seasons, seeing her in another film would be a great way to capitalize on this momentum. As of now, Fallout season 2 faces challenges, but Purnell can handle them.

9 Lovie Simone Oppong

Known for Manhunt (2024) & 57 Seconds (2023)

Manhunt (2024) Mahunt is an AppleTV+ mini-series focusing on the hunt for John Wilkes Booth after he assassinates Abraham Lincoln. Anthony Boyle stars as John Wilkes Booth alongside Tobias Menzies, Lovie Simone, and Will Harrison in the series created by Monica Beletsky. Cast Tobias Menzies , Anthony Boyle , Lovie Simone , Matt Walsh , Brandon Flynn , Betty Gabriel , Will Harrison , Hamish Linklater , Damian O'Hare , Patton Oswalt , Lili Taylor Release Date March 15, 2024 Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Apple TV+ Directors John Dahl , Carl Franklin Showrunner Monica Beletsky

One of Lovie Simone Oppong's latest projects, Manhunt, is a period piece about the search for John Wilkes Booth following the assassination of President Lincoln. Audiences were more familiar with seeing Oppong in a contemporary context with her roles in the thriller 57 Seconds starring opposite Josh Hutcherson and in The Craft: Legacy. However, throughout all these roles and differing settings Oppong's talent has remained constant, as well as her ability to transition seamlessly between genres and periods across her work.

So far, Oppong has played several characters similar to Misty in their fierce determination to stay true to themselves and their convictions at all costs. Additionally, she's shown how well she plays off her costars in all her projects, but most notably her chemistry with Hutcherson in 57 Seconds. One of her most high-profile roles was in Power Book III: Raising Kanan, a spinoff of the original series, Power, which is one of the biggest shows on Starz. Seeing Oppong bring Misty to life would be exciting for fans of her work, allowing her to break into a new genre.

Watch Manhunt on Apple TV+.

8 Jenna Ortega

Known for Wednesday (2022 - Present) & Scream (2022)

Wednesday Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Netflix’s Addams Family series takes place at Nevermore Academy, a school that nurtures outcasts, freaks, and monsters. The Tim Burton-directed series follows Wednesday Addams as she tries to master her emerging psychic powers and solve the supernatural mystery surrounding her family history. Jenna Ortega stars in the popular series, which originally aired on Netflix on November 23, 2022. Cast Jenna Ortega , Catherine Zeta-Jones , Luis Guzman , Gwendoline Christie , Riki Lindhome , Jamie McShane , Christina Ricci , Hunter Doohan , Emma Myers , Joy Sunday Release Date November 16, 2022 Seasons 1 Franchise(s) The Addams Family Directors Tim Burton , James Marshall , Gandja Monteiro

Though a Pokémon movie could be seen as a regression for the star, it would be a great opportunity. Ortega would bring gravity and depth to the character Misty which the role desperately needs.

Few actresses under 25 are as well-known as Jenna Ortega, as she has carved out a niche for herself by playing offbeat characters in exciting new works. In Wednesday, an updated spinoff of The Addams Family, she embodies Wednesday Addams perfectly with dry humor and deadpan delivery that actors twice her age would struggle to perfect. She broke out of her child-star roots in season 2 of the hit Netflix show, You, and has been taking on projects in film and television with serious dramatic arcs ever since.

Though a Pokémon movie could be seen as a regression for the star, it would be a great opportunity. Ortega would bring gravity and depth to the character Misty which the role desperately needs. Misty is sometimes framed as a motherly figure toward Ash and Brock. While the female character in the trio shouldn't be pushed into this role, Ortega has the authority to hold her own against both young men and give them a run for their money. These parts of Misty would be exemplified by Ortega's performance while letting her have fun with the role.

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7 McKenna Grace

Known for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) & Young Sheldon (2027 - Present)

Like many child stars, McKenna Grace started portraying the younger versions of actresses in movies and TV shows. In I, Tonya Grace played the young Tonya and was quite believable due to her similarities with Margot Robbie who played Tonya in the film. Since then, she's established herself as her own person and has transcended this typecasting. Her most high-profile role has been in the rebooted Ghostbusters movies as Phoebe Spengler, a descendant of Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis). Though those movies haven't been as successful as the original franchise, Grace is a highlight of the films.

In Young Sheldon, Grace has reached many viewers with her performance as Paige and has grown a significant following thanks to her time on the series. Due to this, Grace makes sense for the role of Misty, as audiences already perceive her as a precocious teenager capable of much more than people assume. Misty is a child prodigy herself in some ways, as she's already a Gym Leader and has so much experience taming Water Types. It wouldn't be a stretch to see Grace take on the role and imbue it with her usual charisma.

6 Lola Tung

Known for The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022 - Present)

The Summer I Turned Pretty Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Cast Lola Tung , Christopher Briney , Gavin Casalegno , Jackie Chung Release Date June 17, 2022 Seasons 2

The Summer I Turned Pretty has been a major hit for Amazon Prime Video, and it's largely thanks to Lola Tung's anchoring performance as the protagonist, Belly. Based on the book series by Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 is currently underway, which will bring a stunning conclusion to the fraught love triangle at the heart of the series. Luckily for fans who can't get enough of Tung, she's not only a skilled screen actor but also an amazing stage performer. She recently made her Broadway debut as Eurydice in Hadestown.

Working exclusively in romance isn’t bad, but her acting capabilities would allow her to do much more if she wanted to.

Tung has amazing sensitivity and empathy that she brings to all her roles, and as she's so early in her career she has the opportunity to steer it in any direction she chooses. Since The Summer I Turned Pretty is watched by a large audience it has the potential to pigeonhole Tung into the romance genre. Working exclusively in romance isn’t bad, but her acting capabilities would allow her to do much more if she wanted to. Taking on a high-profile role like Misty in Pokémon would expose her to new audiences and open the door for future roles.

5 Kiawentiio Tarbell

Known for Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024 - Present) & Anne With An E (2017 - 2019)

Avatar: The Last Airbender (Live-Action) Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Based on the acclaimed animated Nickelodeon television series, Avatar: The Last Airbender is an action-adventure fantasy series developed by Albert Kim. The series follows Aang, a young man training to harness the four elements to live up to the title of Avatar - the one who will restore balance to the world. Cast Gordon Cormier , Dallas Liu , Kiawentiio , Ian Ousley , Daniel Dae Kim , Paul Sun-Hyung Lee Release Date February 22, 2024 Seasons 1 Franchise(s) Avatar: The Last Airbender Directors Michael Goi , Roseanne Liang , Jabbar Raisani , Jet Wilkinson

Translating the beloved children's animated show, Avatar: The Last Airbender to live-action was no easy task, and while in some ways it falls short of the original, the new show is still a great addition to the franchise. Finding the right actors for the well-known characters, like Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko was of great importance to the creators and audience members. Kiawentiio Tarbell was cast as Katara, a waterbender and one of Aang's best friends, and her performance was one of the strongest in the first season.

She had the difficult task of working around the visual effects that would be inserted in post-production. This is a skill that would certainly come up in filming a live-action Pokémon as the Pokémon themselves would likely be added in using CGI. Giving a strong performance in the absence of physical props can be a challenge, but Tarbell has already shown she's more than capable of this. Additionally, she has already portrayed a live-action version of an animated character, so she understands the pressures and opportunities that this creates.

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4 Storm Reid

Known for Missing (2023) & Euphoria (2019 - Present)

Missing Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Missing is a movie from the creative team behind Searching that follows a daughter trying to find her missing mother. When June's (Storm Reid) mother goes on vacation in Columbia with her new boyfriend, she suddenly goes missing during the adventure. To find her, June will use all the information and social media tools she can to track her mother down before it's too late. However, the deeper she digs, the more she discovers how little she really knew her mother. You can rent Missing for just $1.99 for Prime Day. Director Nick Johnson , Will Merrick Release Date January 20, 2023 Cast Storm Reid , Joaquim De Almeida , Ken Leung , Amy Landecker , Daniel Henney , Nia Long , Ava Zaria Lee Runtime 111 minutes

As she ages into additional roles Reid will only become more prominent and skilled at her craft.

Missing was an innovative film that blended cinema and social media in a way that the director, Nick Johnson, has become known for. However, it takes a strong actor to anchor a film that takes place almost entirely in the virtual world, but Storm Reid was the perfect choice. This alongside her featured episode in The Last of Us has put her at the forefront of audiences' minds over the last several years. Her role in Euphoria as Rue's (Zendaya) younger sister, Gia, was a precursor to her continued dramatic work.

However, due to the extended hiatus for the show, she'll likely continue taking on film projects. Many of the films Reid has been part of have had intense themes and serious plots that have cemented her as one of the strongest dramatic actors of her generation. As she ages into additional roles Reid will only become more prominent and skilled at her craft. However, before she's aged out of younger roles, taking a beat and being part of a light-hearted movie like a live-action Pokémon could shake up her current trajectory and be a fun new challenge.

3 Ashley Liao

Known for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) & Love In Taipei (2023)

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel movie set 64 years before the events of the original movie with Katniss Everdeen. The film centers on a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and shows his rise to power as the leader of Panem. Taking place during the 10th Hunger Games, Snow is tasked with mentoring Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), the tribute from District 12. Director Francis Lawrence Release Date November 17, 2023 Cast Tom Blyth , Rachel Zegler , Hunter Schafer , Jason Schwartzman , Peter Dinklage , Josh Andrés , Josh Andrés Rivera , Viola Davis Runtime 157 Minutes Franchise(s) The Hunger Games

Though Love in Taipei and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes couldn't be more different thematically, they both did an excellent job illustrating the range of Ashley Liao's acting ability. As Clemensia, Liao gets to beef up her villainous side as a privileged member of the Capitol who views the Tributes from the Districts as no more than cattle. Conversely, the realistic fiction of Love in Taipei is a traditional romantic comedy that sees her character, Ever, come of age when she travels to Taipei for the summer.

In both roles, Liao shines and gets the audience invested in her characters from the moment she steps onscreen. She got her start as a child actor in Fuller House but has successfully transitioned into roles that allow her to explore deeper narratives and stronger character work. Her past with children's shows is great preparation for a role like Misty, while her more recent projects primed her for action sequences and adventure stories. Seeing Liao continue to take on central roles in bigger films indicates that her career is just getting started.

2 Anna Cathcart

Known for XO, Kitty (2023 - Present) & To All The Boys I've Loved Before (2018 - 2021)

XO, Kitty Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available XO, Kitty is a comedy-drama series from the creator of To All The Boys I Loved Before, Jenny Han. Teen matchmaker Kitty Song Covey thinks she knows everything there is to know about love. But when she moves halfway across the world to reunite with her long-distance boyfriend, she'll soon realize that relationships are much more complicated when it’s your heart on the line. Cast Anna Cathcart , Sang Heon Lee , Choi Min-young , Anthony Keyvan , Gia Kim , Peter Thurnwald , Regan Aliya Release Date May 18, 2023 Franchise(s) To All the Boys Writers Jenny Han Directors Jennifer Arnold , Jeff Chan , Katina Medina Mora , Pamela Romanowsky Showrunner Jenny Han

Anna Cathcart also has Jenny Han to thank for the prominence of her career, as she not only wrote The Summer I Turned Pretty books but also the novels the To All The Boys I've Loved Before film series is based on. After the final movie, To All The Boys: Always and Forever premiered, fans were still hungry for a continuation of the universe. In response, Han and her creative team created a spinoff for Kitty, Cathcart's character, who's the younger sister of Lara Jean (Lana Condor), the protagonist of To All The Boys.

Her unrelenting optimism and cheerful attitude are perfect for Misty, as she also has the depth to showcase Misty's moments of anger and frustration.

Kitty isn't the typical romantic comedy protagonist, and Cathcart successfully brings all her awkward charm and unerring confidence to the role. Seeing her navigate a new social scene can be stressful when watching XO, Kitty, but Cathcart's performance makes it easy to stick with the characters and see what lies ahead. Her unrelenting optimism and cheerful attitude are perfect for Misty, as she also has the depth to showcase Misty's moments of anger and frustration. Pivoting to a franchise movie would be a smart next move for her career, and show that she's more than To All The Boys.

Related XO, Kitty Season 2: Renewal, Cast, Story & Everything We Know Netflix's XO, Kitty is a hit spinoff series from the To All the Boys I've Loved Before franchise. Here's everything we know about XO, Kitty season 2.

1 Auliʻi Cravalho

Known for Mean Girls (2024) & Crush (2022)

Mean Girls (2024) Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Mean Girls is a reimagining of the 2004 classic comedy film as a musical, directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. When Cady Heron and her family move from Africa to the United States; she experiences a culture shock when she enters the public school system for the first time. While trying to fit in, she is roped into the popular but superficial and cruel clique, the Plastics. Director Samantha Jayne , Arturo Perez Jr. Release Date January 12, 2024 Cast Angourie Rice , Auli'i Cravalho , Jaquel Spivey , Reneé Rapp , Jon Hamm , Ashley Park , Jenna Fischer , Tina Fey , Tim Meadows

Though Auliʻi Cravalho is best known for her voice acting role as Moana in the hit Disney film, Moana, she's been slowly but surely breaking into the live-action world. Cravalho got to put her singing skills on display once again as Janis in the recent adaptation of Mean Girls as a movie musical. However, she's not just a singer, and her acting abilities shouldn't be overlooked, especially after her work in the coming-of-age rom-com Crush. Many of the roles Cravalho has taken on provide a positive representation of the LGBTQ+ community.

These characters have strong personalities and aren't easily pushed around by the antagonists, which is a key characteristic of Misty in Pokémon. Casting Cravalho could open the door for recreating Misty as part of the LGBTQ+ community, and increasing the diversity of voices represented in a live-action movie. Additionally, Cravalho's comedic timing would lend itself brilliantly to the role, as Misty should be a voice of both reason and comedy in the story.