As Sonic The Hedgehog 3 gears up to zoom into cinemas, here’s a comprehensive rundown of all the details we have, including insights into the movie’s cast, premiere date, and additional information.
In light of the triumph achieved by both Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Paramount wasted no time in revealing their commitment to bring more adventures featuring Sega’s beloved blue speedster to the big screen.
This commitment materializes through two exciting projects: a spin-off series centered around Idris Elba’s portrayal of Knuckles, who made his cinematic debut in the Sonic sequel last year, and a fully-fledged third installment in the Sonic film franchise.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Movie Release: When Is It Coming Out?
The release date for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is currently set for December 20, 2024. However, there is a potential for this release date to be delayed due to the ongoing writer’s strike.
Collider reports that the production of the third Sonic movie is expected to commence later this summer, starting on August 31.
Considering the historical timeline of the previous Sonic films, both Sonic 1 and Sonic 2 were released approximately one year after filming began, with a gap of 15 months for Sonic 1 and 13 months for Sonic 2. This 15-month timeframe between the start of production and the release date appears to be within the capabilities of Paramount and the Sonic 3 team.
Is Jim Carrey Coming Back for Sonic 3?
There’s some uncertainty about whether Jim Carrey will reprise his role as Eggman/Dr. Robotnik for a third Sonic movie. Carrey, who portrayed the main antagonist in the first two films, has openly expressed that Sonic The Hedgehog 2 would mark his final acting gig. He conveyed this sentiment, as reported by Variety, by stating, “I’ve accomplished enough, and I am content.”
Adding to the doubt is the fact that Carrey’s mustache-clad villain appeared to meet his demise with the destruction of the Giant Eggman Robot at the conclusion of Sonic 2. This circumstance would logically suggest that Carrey’s character might not make a return, especially given his apparent retirement from acting.
Despite these factors, the character’s fate was deliberately left somewhat ambiguous, leaving the door open for a potential comeback, even if Carrey has signaled his intention to step away from acting.
Producer Neal Moritz emphasized their commitment not to consider recasting the role if Carrey chose not to return. Both Moritz and fellow producer Toby Ascher conveyed their strong desire to have Carrey on board as long as he’s willing to be a part of the project, as they shared with IGN in April 2022.
Ascher: “Jim Carrey is always a member of the Sonic family and he will always have a place in these movies and TV shows as long as he’d like to be around. We love Jim and he’s so special, and what he does with Robotnik is so incredible, we would love him as long as he would like to be there with us.”
Moritz: “I have a feeling that he loves Robotnik so much that I don’t think he’ll be able to walk away from that.”
Will Sonic 3 Be About Shadow?
The most tantalizing aspect emerging from Sonic The Hedgehog 2 undoubtedly revolved around the introduction of Shadow the Hedgehog in the Sonic movie universe.
In the post-credits scene of Sonic 2, a somber sequence drops hints at the possibility of Shadow taking on the role of the main antagonist in the third installment.
In the gaming realm, Shadow has often found himself at odds with Sonic while occasionally teaming up with the iconic blue speedster. His backstory is famously intricate, typical of the complex lore in the Sonic universe. Shadow’s origin stems from 50 years of experimentation aimed at creating what’s known as the “Ultimate Life Form.” Sonic 3 may delve even deeper into this history, possibly exploring his connection to Dr. Eggman’s granddaughter, Maria.
In the video games Sonic Adventure 2 and Shadow The Hedgehog, we learn that the character shared a profound bond with Maria Robotnik, originally designed to aid in finding a cure for the perilous and potentially incurable NIDS: Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Writers Patrick Casey and Josh Miller have expressed their eagerness to incorporate elements from Sonic Adventure 2 and Shadow the Hedgehog into the movie’s narrative, as they previously mentioned in an interview with ComicBook.com.
“The fact that Shadow is clearly going to be in the franchise moving forward, I don’t think it’s revealing anything to say we’d love to incorporate elements from ‘Sonic Adventure 2′ and ‘Shadow the Hedgehog,‘ his solo spinoff game,”
So really, anything is on the table when it comes to how deep into Shadow Sonic The Hedgehog 3 goes.
Will Amy Rose be in Sonic 3?
An essential Sonic character still awaiting their debut in the world of cinema (and no, we’re not referring to Big the Cat) is none other than Amy Rose.
The primary romantic interest of Sonic has yet to make any discernible appearance, but if the creators behind the Sonic movie franchise opt to follow the same path they took with Sonic 2, Amy seems like a logical addition.
According to information from Games Radar, discussions about the possibility of the hammer-wielding pink hedgehog appearing in the forthcoming Sonic 3 installment are ongoing. While the Sonic 3 writers couldn’t confirm anything definitively, they did acknowledge that developments were underway.
Currently, you can catch Sonic The Hedgehog 1 and 2 by streaming them on Paramount+.
