A bidding war has reportedly broken out between Legendary Entertainment, Warner Bros. Pictures and Sony Pictures over the rights for a live-action "Pokemon" movie.

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According to The Hollywood Reporter, Legendary -- which is owned by China's Dalian Wanda Group -- is closest to nearing a deal to acquire the rights for the Japanese property. The Pokemon Co. has reportedly been courting Hollywood for a "big-budget live-action" adaptation.

THR notes that the deal could contribute to ongoing tensions between China and Japan: "[The "Pokemon" acquisition] could pose a potential problem considering Legendary's ownership by the Chinese real estate and investment conglomerate Wanda. There have been long simmering political tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, which most recently peaked with Japan's criticism of China's territorial ambitions in the South China Sea. Those pressures have also led to a cultural strain between the two countries in which China effectively banned Japanese films for three years, which was only broken recently."

No release date for the "Pokemon" live-action movie has been set.