Sonic the Hedgehog 3: Release date, cast, plot, and everything we know so far

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was announced to be confirmed even before the second film premiered on March 30, 2022, by Sega Sammy Group and Paramount Pictures. The upcoming film will be the canonical continuation of the eponymous hedgehog’s story that will introduce a new antihero, Shadow, who will be voiced by Keanu Reeves.

The third Sonic live-action film’s production began in July 2023 and it didn’t face any postponement or halt due to the ongoing 2023 strikes, given the filming only included animated characters without the actual actors.

After the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike ended, the film resumed production at full throttle with physical actors and teased the partial first look of Shadow’s life-sized statue with the message “Off and Running,” and the release date. Follow along with the article to learn more about Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be released globally on December 20, 2024

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be debuting in the U.S. and Japan’s theatres on December 20, 2024. The global release date of the film is yet to be revealed. As stated above, the third installment to the franchise was formally made public by Sega Sammy Group and Paramount Pictures during the ViacomCBS investor event.

The film will not only see the return of all the cast members but also the entire staff with Jeff Fowler as director once again. As revealed by the production houses, the film was being developed alongside the spin-off, Knuckles.

As Toby Ascher, one of the producers of the film confirmed to GamesRadar+, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will draw heavy inspiration from Sonic Adventure 2. Here’s what Ascher said in an interview:

“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."

Jim Carey fans who loved his performance in the movie series as Eggman, and all his previous works are in for a shock as the third Sonic film is likely the last movie the actor will appear on.

As confirmed in a live interview with Kit Hoover of Access Hollywood, the actor has proclaimed his retirement. Carey also added a catch that he may return if the scripts sound like something written with “gold ink”:

“Well, I’m retiring. Yeah, probably. I’m being fairly serious. It depends. If the angels bring some sort of script that’s written in gold ink that says to me that it’s going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I’m taking a break.”

He further added:

“I really like my quiet life and I really like putting paint on canvas and I really love my spiritual life and I feel like — and this is something you might never hear another celebrity say as long as time exists — I have enough. I’ve done enough. I am enough.”

With that, the actor has made clear that there’s still a possibility of his return to the screens, but only if the scripts strike a chord with him. Nevertheless, seeing the actor once again as the iconic Eggman would be a thrilling treat to fans, promising excitement and lots of humor.

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Where to watch Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be having a theatrical debut, distributed by Paramount Pictures in the theaters of the U.S. nationwide. The release of the third Sonic live-action film has pushed back the date of the untitled Smurfs animated musical to February 14, 2025. The OTT release date of the movie is yet to revealed. However, like the previous installments, the third film will also land on Paramout+.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 cast and characters

All major voice cast from the previous films and spin-offs will be returning to reprise their respective roles in the third film:

• Ben Schwartz as Sonic the Hedgehog
• Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Miles "Tails" Prower
• Idris Elba as Knuckles the Echidna
• Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog

Similarly, the live-action cast will also be returning for the new movie:

• James Marsden as Tom Wachowski
• Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski
• Jim Carrey as Dr. Ivo Robotnik
• Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone
• Tom Butler as Commander Walters
• Alyla Browne as Maria

Cast with undisclosed roles:

• Krysten Ritter
• Sofia Pernas
• Cristo Fernández
• James Wolk
• Jorma Taccone

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What to expect from Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Although there is no official logline released yet, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will introduce a whole new foe, who is simply the evil counterpart of the eponymous speedster. The third film will feature Shadow the Hedgehog, created by Gerald Robotnik. Shadow is regarded as the ultimate lifeform, possessing unparalleled agility and strength.

As per the video game's original storyline, Shadow is designed to harness the powers of Chaos Emerald with utmost ease. Often seen as an anti-hero, Shadow grapples with purpose and identity while balancing his grim past and the positive heroism in him.

It is the death of Maria Robotnik, the granddaughter of Gerald, that pushes Shadow into the darkness, where the trauma causes him to loathe humanity, whom he collectively holds responsible. Shadow is going to be an incredible foe that Sonic and his friends are not ready. Things will become even more challenging after Shadow gets his hands on the Chaos Emerald.

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Stay tuned for more news and updates on Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and all your favorite TV shows and movies as 2024 progresses.