In what could be considered a Sonic the Hedgehog Renaissance, Sonic fans are eager for any piece of news or rumors regarding Sega’s “Blue Blur” and the latest word on Sonic’s latest motion picture event could be getting many fans excited!
Knuckles (Idris Elba) and Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 from Paramount Pictures and Sega.
According to the producer of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Toby Ascher, the third film in the series will “take a lot” of influence from Sonic Adventure 2, as revealed in a recent interview with GameRadar+.
Ascher stated, “It’s going to be this giant, fun, incredible movie that obviously takes a lot from Sonic Adventure 2 and some of the games that I know the core Sonic Team grew up loving.”
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 title treatment via Paramount Pictures YouTube
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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is set to mark the silver screen debut of Shadow the Hedgehog, one of the most popular Sonic the Hedgehog characters ever, so much so that his motorcycle, which debuted in his “self-titled” game, was on public display at MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas recently.
Shadow and Sonic share a Birthday month as the two famous animals are only days apart, as Shadow first appeared in 2001’s Sonic Adventure 2 which was, at the time, a 10th anniversary celebration of 1991’s Sonic the Hedgehog. While Sonic Adventure 2 might have been released on the “dying” Sega Dreamcast, the cultural impact of the game has left many stunned and inspired by its influence, despite some criticisms.
A screenshot from Sonic Adventure 2 (2001), SEGA
Almost every Sonic game in the past 30 years is considered polarizing in reception, “you love it or you hate it,” but the “duality” is quite fitting with the trend of Sonic Adventure 2’s “Hero or Dark” theme through the Dreamcast classic. Most of the story of Sonic Adventure 2 follows the mysterious origins of Shadow and his quest for revenge on humanity for the sins of their past against him. It’s unknown how many aspects will be taken from the 20-plus year old game, but the main theme of the game performed by “Crush-40” has already made an orchestral appearance in the trailer for the upcoming movie.
With Keanu Reeves voicing Shadow and a movie taking notes from one of the most popular Sonic games ever, Paramount is bound to have a hit on their hands, however, it does lead fans to wonder where the series could go after having a fun motion picture experience this Christmas.
Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 from Paramount Pictures and Sega.
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Outside of Sonic Adventure 2, the most likely candidates for “story influence” would possibly be 1993’s Sonic CD or perhaps even the controversial Sonic the Hedgehog 06 as they both contain popular characters with fleshed out backstories. However, after the poor reception to the delivery of the storyline in Sonic 06 many ensuing Sonic gamesgave the story a backseat, to varying degrees of success. Games such as 2013’s Sonic Lost World and the failed Sonic Boom spinoff game contained very little focus on the storyline and 2017’s Sonic Forces was seen as serious and cheesy “in all the wrong ways”.
The recent success of 2022’s Sonic Frontiers shows that the series is starting to “amp-up” the story approach again, but could a future Sonic game have a story and world that could have enough of an influence on the kids of today to be seen as worthy of the silver screen by Hollywood?
A screenshot from Sonic Frontiers (2022), Sonic Team
Whether or not the series continues remains to be seen, but until that time comes, gamers and Sonic Fans alike can instead focus the attention on a film that many thought would never happen. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 releases December 20th, 2024.
