“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is shaping up to be an exciting addition to the franchise, with a mix of returning favorites and new elements that are sure to thrill fans. Directed by Jeff Fowler, the movie sees the return of key cast members, including Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, Idris Elba as Knuckles, and Jim Carrey reprising his role as Dr. Robotnik.
The big news is Keanu Reeves joining the cast as the voice of Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic’s dark rival. The inclusion of Shadow, a character with a complex backstory tied to the “Sonic Adventure 2” game, adds a layer of depth and intensity to the story. The movie is expected to draw inspiration from the games “Sonic Adventure 2” and “Shadow the Hedgehog,” which means fans can look forward to a blend of action-packed sequences and emotional moments.
Critics who have seen early footage of the movie note that it maintains the high-energy, fun tone of the previous films, with even more chaotic and over-the-top action scenes. However, there are some concerns about whether the movie will be able to balance its growing ensemble cast and complex storyline. Nonetheless, with the creative team from the first two movies returning, there’s optimism that “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” will be a satisfying continuation of the franchise.
The film is set for release on December 20, 2024, making it a highly anticipated holiday season blockbuster.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jeff Fowler |
| Screenplay by | Pat Casey, Josh Miller, John Whittington |
| Story by | Pat Casey, Josh Miller |
| Based on | Sonic the Hedgehog by Sega |
| Produced by | Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara, Hitoshi Okuno |
| Starring | Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub, Alyla Browne, Krysten Ritter, Keanu Reeves |
| Cinematography | Brandon Trost |
| Edited by | Al LeVine |
| Music by | Tom Holkenborg |
| Production companies | Sega Sammy Group, Original Film, Marza Animation Planet, Blur Studio |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date | December 20, 2024 |
| Countries | United States, Japan |
| Language | English |
Casting:
Voice Cast
- Ben Schwartz as Sonic the Hedgehog: An anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who can run at supersonic speeds.
- Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Miles “Tails” Prower: An anthropomorphic yellow-orange fox who can fly with his twin tails.
- Idris Elba as Knuckles the Echidna: A hot-headed and serious anthropomorphic red echidna warrior with super strength.
- Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog: An anthropomorphic red-striped black hedgehog, the result of a secret government program called Project Shadow.
Live-Action Cast
- Jim Carrey in a dual role as:
- Dr. Ivo Robotnik: A mad scientist and Sonic’s arch-nemesis, often referred to as “Eggman.”
- Gerald Robotnik: Ivo’s grandfather.
- James Marsden as Tom Wachowski: The adoptive father of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, and the sheriff of Green Hills, Montana.
- Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski: Tom’s wife, the adoptive mother of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, and the local veterinarian of Green Hills.
- Krysten Ritter as Director Rockwell: A new character introduced in this installment.
- Natasha Rothwell as Rachel: Maddie’s sister.
- Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone: Robotnik’s assistant.
- Tom Butler as Commander Walters: The former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and leader of the military organization G.U.N. (Guardian Units of Nations).
- Adam Pally as Wade Whipple: A dim-witted deputy sheriff of Green Hills.
- Shemar Moore as Randall Handel: Rachel’s husband and an agent for G.U.N.
- Alyla Browne as Maria: A girl who Shadow befriends during his time in a lab.
Additional Cast Members (Undisclosed Roles)
- Sofia Pernas
- Cristo Fernández
- James Wolk
- Jorma Taccone
These actors will likely contribute to the film’s mix of action, humor, and emotional depth, helping to expand the Sonic the Hedgehog universe in this third installment.
Production Development:
In March 2020, James Marsden revealed that he had signed on for multiple sequels to the original Sonic the Hedgehog film. By February 2022, following the success of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022), Sega Sammy Group and Paramount Pictures began developing a third installment. The film was officially announced during a ViacomCBS investor event.
Jeff Fowler returned to direct the third film, while Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara, and Hitoshi Okuno continued their roles as producers. Executive producers for the project included Haruki Satomi, Shuji Utsumi, Yukio Sugino, Fowler, Tommy Gormley, and Tim Miller. The screenplay was written by Pat Casey, Josh Miller, and John Whittington, with Casey and Miller also credited for the story. Additionally, Paul Greenberg and Oren Uziel contributed off-screen literary material.
Simultaneously with the film’s development, a spin-off television series focusing on the character Knuckles was created for Paramount+. The plot of the third film draws inspiration from the video games Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) and Shadow the Hedgehog (2005).
In April 2022, Jim Carrey, who portrays Dr. Robotnik, mentioned that he was contemplating retirement from acting. In response, producers Moritz and Ascher stated that Carrey’s role would not be recast in any future sequels if he chose to retire. They remained hopeful that they could develop scripts compelling enough to persuade Carrey to continue in the role. Carrey himself noted that he would only return if the script felt truly significant and was “written in gold ink.”
Music:
Tom Holkenborg, who composed the scores for the first two Sonic the Hedgehog films, returned to score Sonic the Hedgehog 3. By July 2024, Holkenborg had completed his work on the film’s score.
In December 2023, Johnny Gioeli, the vocalist for Crush 40, mentioned that there were discussions about including the iconic song “Live & Learn” from Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) in the movie. By February 2024, Gioeli confirmed that “Live & Learn” would indeed be featured in the film, adding a nostalgic touch for fans of the game series.
This inclusion highlights the film’s connection to the Sonic game lore, especially given the film’s narrative ties to Sonic Adventure 2.
Release:
The Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is scheduled for a theatrical release in the United States by Paramount Pictures on December 20, 2024. This date was originally slated for The Smurfs Movie (2025), which has since been rescheduled to accommodate the release of the much-anticipated third installment of the Sonic franchise.
Synopsis. Paramount Pictures released a trailer for “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” featuring Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog. The film, directed by Jeff Fowler, will be released on December 20.
