Pokémon Go has been out for almost a week now, and everyone is joining in the Poké-catching fun. Even celebrities are running outside to catch their favorite Pokémon. Can you imagine the gym near you owned by an Asian American celebrity? We did.
Here are a few Asian American celebrities re-imagined into Poké-society:
The grass-types: John Cho and Kal Penn
“They do more than train grass-types”: While both of these men have come far in their careers, one can never forget their roles in the stoner classic “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.” Imagine them reprising those roles in their own grass-type gym. Training strictly Oddishes, the gym would be an easy badge and a “high” priority stop for any trainer.
The bug-type: Lucy Liu
“She’ll cut you down….if Scyther doesn’t first”: Liu has played her fair share of sword-wielding kickass women. In the Poké-world she’d do the same as the bug-type gym leader. Alongside her loyal Scyther, she’ll be chopping away at the dreams of trainers everywhere.
The psychic-type: Olivia Munn
“Welcome to the psycho circus”: Having just played Psylocke in “X-Men,” it’s only fitting that Munn would run her own psychic-type gym. She’d be the ringmaster of a traveling circus that showcases the telekinetic powers of her pal Alakazam. Together, they’d use the power of their minds to defeat any who decide to challenge them.
The fighting-type: Donnie Yen
“Wah! Ha! Hi-ya!”: “Ip Man” did more than just train Bruce Lee – he trained Pokémon, too. Yen takes hold of his own dojo as the fighting-type gym leader. He’d be training future trainers alongside his Hitmonlees and Hitmonchans, allowing everyone to get their black belt in Pokémon.
The dark-type: Steven Yeun
“I want a rare Pokémon, not your pathetic excuses!”: Gym leader by day, mob lord by night, Yeun would play the dark-type gym leader. As cool as he is calculated, Yeun would run a Team Rocket-esque crime syndicate in some fancy hotel. At the top floor, trainers would find him waiting with a Houndoom or two – and some condescending words.
The fairy-type: Chloe Bennet
The diva with big dreams: Most people know her as Daisy in Marvel’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” but little know that Bennet started her career as a pop star in Beijing. In the Poké-world, she’d be selling out stadiums with her troupe of Jigglypuffs. In her downtime, she’d give trainers the chance to earn a badge in her fairy-type gym – and maybe treat them to her single “Uh Oh.”
The dragon-type: George Takei
“Oh my, a new challenger”: After a long hike up the side of a cliff, you’d find an unassuming house. You’d knock on the door and hear the fell swoop of something flying above, and on the floor notice the silhouette of a Charizard. The door would open, only showing darkness. That darkness would give way to light by the way of dragon’s breath, and you’d watch as Takei emerged, the fearless leader of the dragon-type gym.
The electric-type: Tokimonsta
“Beat after beat, beat-down after beat-down”: DJ-ing at the local club, which doubles as the electric-type gym, Tokimonsta would use her slew of Pokémon to electrify the crowd – and other Pokémon. Energized by an army of Magnemites, her shows only end when she says they do.
The water-type: Priyanka Chopra
“Just keep swimming”: Since she’s already wearing a bathing suit for her upcoming role in the new “Baywatch,” Chopra might as well be the water-type gym leader. Teaching people how to swim as the local swim instructor, she’d also teach prospective trainers the best uses for their water-type Pokémon.
The dual-types: Aziz Ansari and Mindy Kaling
“They’ll laugh at your pain”: Put two comedy giants into one room, and you’ll get laughs. Put two Pokémon masters into one room, and you’ll get a lot of fainting Pokémon. Ansari and Kaling would run a comedy club and their own dual-type gym, as fire and ice trainers respectively.
The rock-type: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
“Cookin’ up trouble”: It’s hard to pass this one up. Why have Brock when you can have “The Rock?” Johnson would take control of his own fitness gym as the rock-type gym leader. Can you smell what he’s cookin’?
The Professor: Ken Jeong
“Starting our journey with laughs”: And lastly, our honorable mention. Jeong as Professor Ken, our very own Professor Oak.
What kind of gym would your favorite stars lead?
