Entertainment
Sonic the Hedgehog 3: New Adventures and Alliances in the Upcoming Film
Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2020 and 2022 films, is set to hit theaters on December 20, 2024. Directed by Jeff Fowler, the film continues the adventures of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles as they face a new and powerful adversary, Shadow the Hedgehog. This mysterious villain, voiced by Keanu Reeves, possesses abilities unlike anything the trio has encountered before, including teleportation and extreme strength.
The film draws inspiration from the video games Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) and Shadow the Hedgehog (2005), incorporating elements such as the fairy-like creatures known as Chao. In the movie, these characters are part of a Chao Gardens-themed restaurant in Tokyo, where Team Sonic and Shadow have their first confrontation. Director Jeff Fowler emphasized the importance of staying true to the original characters and their expectations, particularly in handling sensitive imagery from the games in a family-friendly manner.
The cast includes Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Tails, and Idris Elba as Knuckles, with Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, and Natasha Rothwell reprising their roles. New additions to the cast include Krysten Ritter. Notably, Keanu Reeves was cast as Shadow due to his performance in the John Wick films, which aligned with Fowler’s vision for the character.
Production for the film began in July 2023 for the animated characters in Surrey, England, and in November 2023 for the live-action scenes in London, concluding by March 2024. The score for the film was composed by Tom Holkenborg, who also worked on the first two films. The theme song “Live & Learn” from Sonic Adventure 2 will be featured, and Jelly Roll has released a single titled “Run It” for the movie.
Paramount Pictures will release the film theatrically in the United States on December 20, 2024, with a fan event scheduled for December 19. The film will also be released in the United Kingdom on December 21. Tickets went on sale on November 25, 2024.
