Development for a Sonic the Hedgehog film had occurred dating back to 1993, when Michealene Risley, consumer products director of Sega of America negotiated with several Hollywood producers. Risley had helped license Sonic for the animated series Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog. Sega of America CEO Tom Kalinske feared damaging the brand, citing the commercial and critical failures of previous video game film adaptations Super Mario Bros. (1993) and Street Fighter (1994). Despite Kalinske's concerns, Sega was enthusiastic. In August 1994, Sega struck a development deal with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Trilogy Entertainment Group, with Pen Densham as executive producer.[2] The film was to be titled Sonic the Hedgehog: Wonders of the World, and would follow Sonic after coming into the real world of a kid named Josh and fighting Dr. Robotnik. MGM later cancelled the film after a failed attempt to give the film to DreamWorks Pictures.[2]
In 2002, Ben Hurst pitched an animated Sonic film to DIC Entertainment that would be a continuation of the Sonic the Hedgehog TV series, on which he worked as a writer. DiC put Hurst in contact with a Sega executive interested in the idea. Hurst was contacted by Ken Penders, writer of the Archie Comics' Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series, who had been alerted of Hurst's plans. Though Hurst told him his strategy and offered to include him in his effort, Penders told Sega that Hurst was trying to co-opt the franchise, leading Sega to dismiss Hurst and his proposal.[3] In September 2003, Penders pitched his own concept for a Sonic film, Sonic Armageddon. In Penders' words, the movie would have been an origin story and a series reset, resolving the plot threads which began in the animated Sonic show and continued in Archie's comic series. The project was dropped in 2007 due to a corporate upheaval and the death of Sega licensing manager Robert Leffler, who had supported Penders.[4] Penders later confirmed that the film was not pitched to DreamWorks at all.[4]
On October 2, 2017, Paramount Pictures announced that they had acquired the rights after Sony put the film in turnaround.[10] Filming began in September 2018.[11] Following the release of the first trailer in April 2019, the film was delayed from its November 2019 release date to re-design Sonic after his original design was heavily criticized.[12] The film was released in February 2020 to a mixed-to-positive reception. The film features a post-credits scene featuring Miles "Tails" Prower, with Fowler, Casey, Miller, and stars James Marsden and Ben Schwartz expressed interest in a sequel that further explored the video game's world.[13][14][15][16]
A sequel was confirmed in May 2020, with most of the production team and cast returning from the first film.[17]
Expansion into television
During development on Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the producers became interested in developing television series set in the films' universe that served as character studies for the cast, with the films serving as "these Avengers-level events" while the shows explore the franchise's supporting characters and give them more depth.[18]
Having superhuman speed, Sonic is forced to abandon his home world of Mobius[19] and ends up on Earth. After being discovered on Earth, he teams up with a human named Tom Wachowski to stop Dr. Ivo Robotnik, who wants to harness his powers. The first film in the series, it was released in theaters on February 14, 2020.[20]
Originally intended for release on November 8, 2019,[21]Sonic the Hedgehog was pushed back to February 14, 2020, due to the overwhelmingly negative response to Sonic's design in the first trailer.[22][23][24] Upon its release, the film was met with mixed reviews from critics, but was a box-office success, becoming the sixth highest-grossing film of 2020.[25]
Eight months after the events of the first film, Sonic joins forces with Tails to stop Dr. Robotnik, who recruits Knuckles to find a powerful emerald that has the power to build and destroy civilizations.
Following the success of the first film, Paramount had confirmed that a sequel was in development in May 2020, with Fowler set to return as director alongside writers Casey and Josh Miller.[26] Neal H. Mortiz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara produced the sequel, having previously co-produced the first film alongside Takeshi Ito, while Tim Miller, Hajime Satomi, and Haruki Satomi returned from the first film as executive producers.[26] Most of the first film's cast returned to reprise their roles, with Idris Elba joining the voice cast as Knuckles the Echidna.[27] Filming began in March 2021, in Vancouver, Canada.[28] The film premiered internationally in March 30, 2022,[29] followed by a world premiere on April 5, 2022,[30] and a theatrical release in the United States in April 8.[31]
Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles take on a mysterious and powerful adversary, Shadow the Hedgehog, while Dr. Ivo Robotnik reunites with his lost grandfather, Prof. Gerald Robotnik, unaware that Gerald has a sinister agenda of his own.
In February 2022, Sega and Paramount confirmed that a third Sonic the Hedgehog film was in active development,[32] with Schwartz reprising his role, who expressed interest in it being subtitled "The Next Level." In April 2022, after Carrey announced that he was considering retiring from acting,[33] producers Moritz and Ascher confirmed that his role as Dr. Robotnik would not be recast in any sequels if he followed through with his retirement plans. However, they remained hopeful that they could develop a script good enough for him to continue the role.[34] On August 8, 2022, it was announced that the film would release in theaters on December 20, 2024.[35] The character Shadow the Hedgehog also appears following his cameo in the mid-credit scene of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, with Keanu Reeves revealed to be providing the voice for the character in April 2024. In June 2023, it was reported that filming would begin in late August 2023 in London.[36] Due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, filming would start in September 2023 without actors.[37] In February 2024, it was officially confirmed that Carrey would be reprising his role for the film,[38] while Krysten Ritter, Alyla Browne, James Wolk, Sofia Pernas, Cristo Fernández, and Jorma Taccone were cast.[39]
The film is set after the events of Knuckles (2024),[40] and takes place over two years after the events of the first film.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (2027)
In September 2024, producer Toby Ascher stated intent for additional installments in the franchise following the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.[41] In December 2024, the film was officially greenlit, slated for Spring 2027.[42]
It is expected that Amy Rose and Metal Sonic, who both appeared in the mid-credits scene of the previous film, will appear in this film.
Short films
Around the World in 80 Seconds (2020)
On the home media release of the first film, a short film titled Around the World in 80 Seconds was included.[43]
Sonic Drone Home (2022)
On May 23, 2022, a digital release was announced with an animated short film called Sonic Drone Home following the events of the second film with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles trying to deal with a badnik upgrading itself at the Green Hills Junkyard.[44]
A Very Sonic Christmas (2024)
A stop-motion short titled A Very Sonic Christmas was released on December 11, 2024, with Schwartz, Elba, O'Shaughnessey, and Reeves reprising their roles and Wade Whipple actor Adam Pally voicing Santa Claus.[45] Animated in a similar style to the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer television special, the short sees Sonic showing Tails and Knuckles how to celebrate their first Christmas, including holiday sweaters, tree decorating, and Santa Claus. Sonic uses one of his rings to summon Santa, but he injures his ankle upon falling through the ring, seemingly canceling Christmas. Team Sonic volunteers to deliver the presents, including to the Robotniks (which is just coal). After finishing delivering the presents, the team drops Santa off back at the North Pole, where they find Shadow stealing Santa's sleigh with his motorcycle.
Knuckles the Echidna takes Green Hills deputy officer Wade Whipple as his apprentice, teaching him the ways of the Echidnas.[47]
On February 15, 2022, during ViacomCBS' investor day, a television series centered around Knuckles was revealed to be in development for Paramount+, with it set for release in 2024.[37][48]John Whittington was announced as head writer and executive producer in April 2023,[47] with Toby Ascher announced as showrunner and co-developer alongside Wittington in February 2024.[49] Additional executive-producers include Idris Elba and Sonic film director Jeff Fowler, who directed the pilot.[47] Filming began on April 2023 in London, England.[47]
The series is set after Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022), and before the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024).[40] Elba, Adam Pally, Tika Sumpter, Ben Schwartz, and Colleen O'Shaughnessey reprise their respective roles from the films as Knuckles, Wade Whipple, Maddie, Sonic, and Tails.[47][49]Christopher Lloyd voices Pachacamac,[50] who previously made a silent cameo during the first film's prologue.[51] All six episodes premiered on April 26, 2024 on Paramount+.[52]
Future
In April 2024, Toby Ascher said other television series were possible should Knuckles be a success and as long as the filmmakers had a "really great story to tell."[18]
Other media
Comics
In an exclusive Steelbook release for the first film, a short comic was included, titled Sonic the Hedgehog: The Adventures of Sonic & Donut Lord.[53]
As a promotional tie-in to Sonic the Hedgehog 2, a prequel comic called Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Official Movie Pre-Quill was released on March 30, 2022, which is written by Kiel Phegley with artwork by Adam Bryce Thomas, Tracy Yardley and Evan Stanley.[54]
As a promotional tie-in to Sonic the Hedgehog 3 handed out to moviegoers in Japan, a prequel manga called Sonic X Shadow TOKYO MISSION: Episode 0 was released on December 27, 2024, written and illustrated by Yuki Imada.[55]
A Sonic the Hedgehog 3-themed DLC pack for Shadow Generations (2024) was released on December 12, 2024. The pack includes an additional level set in Tokyo as it appears in the film; during the level, Shadow's appearance changes to resemble his movie counterpart, with Reeves reprising his voice.[58][59]
^Phegley, Kiel (April 8, 2022). Sonic the Hedgehog 2: The Official Movie Novelization. Penguin. ISBN9780593387368. 'Don't play dumb with me.' Knuckles shook him hard. 'Child of Mobius. Apprentice of Longclaw.'
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