Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Directed byJeff Fowler
Screenplay by
Based onSonic the Hedgehog
by Sega[a]
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyBrandon Trost
Music byTom Holkenborg
Production
companies
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • December 20, 2024 (2024-12-20)
Countries
  • United States
  • Japan
LanguageEnglish

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is an upcoming action-adventure comedy film based on the video game series published by Sega and the sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022). It is directed by Jeff Fowler and written by Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington. James Marsden, Ben Schwartz, Tika Sumpter, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Lee Majdoub, Idris Elba, and Jim Carrey reprise their roles.

Plans for a third Sonic the Hedgehog film were announced in February 2022 during ViacomCBS's investor event before the release of the second film. Due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, filming for animated characters began in July 2023 in Surrey, England, while filming with physical actors began in November of that year in London, with production concluding by March 2024. The film will draw inspiration from the video games Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) and Shadow the Hedgehog (2005).

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is scheduled to be theatrically released by Paramount Pictures in the United States on December 20, 2024.

Cast

Voice cast

Additionally, Shadow the Hedgehog, an anthropomorphic red-striped black hedgehog who is the result of a secret government program called Project Shadow, is set to appear in the film.[4] His voice actor is yet to be revealed.

Live-action cast

Additionally, Krysten Ritter, Sofia Pernas, Cristo Fernández, James Wolk, and Jorma Taccone were cast in undisclosed roles.[3]

Production

Development

In February 2022, Sega Sammy Group and Paramount Pictures had been in development of a third Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) film after Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022). The film was formally announced during ViacomCBS's investor event.[6] Jeff Fowler returned as director, and Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara, and Hitoshi Okuno returned as producers.[7] In addition, a spin-off television series for Paramount+, Knuckles, was developed simultaneously with the film.[6] The film will draw inspiration from the video games Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) and Shadow the Hedgehog (2005).[8]

Casting

On March 6, 2020, James Marsden confirmed that he had signed on for multiple sequels.[9] In April 2022, Jim Carrey–who portrays Dr. Robotnik in the films–announced that he was considering retiring from acting.[10] With his possible retirement, Moritz and Ascher confirmed that his role as Robotnik would not be recast in any sequels if he followed through with his retirement plans. However, they remained hopeful that they could develop scripts good enough for him to continue the role.[11] In February 2024, it was officially confirmed that Carrey would be reprising his role for the film,[7] along with Marsden, Ben Schwartz, Tika Sumpter, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Idris Elba, Lee Majdoub, and Tom Butler.[3] Krysten Ritter, Alyla Browne, James Wolk, Sofia Pernas, Cristo Fernández, and Jorma Taccone were cast in undisclosed roles;[3] Taccone was previously hired as an episode director for the Knuckles series.[12] Schwartz began recording for the film the same month.[13]

Filming

Second-unit filming began in late July 2023 for animated characters only without physical actors (due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike) in Farnham, Surrey, England.[14] Principal photography was originally scheduled to begin on August 31, 2023, in London, England,[15][16] but was delayed to September of that year.[17] Production with physical actors started on November 29, 2023, announced with a teaser image of Shadow the Hedgehog's stand-in statue used in filming.[4] Marsden said that filming had wrapped by March 14, 2024.[18]

Music

In December 2023, Crush 40 vocalist Johnny Gioeli said there had been talks of including the song "Live & Learn" from Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) in the film.[19] In January 2024, Tom Holkenborg, who also composed for the first two films, was announced to be returning for the film.[20] The following month, Gioeli confirmed "Live & Learn" would be included in the film.[21]

Release

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be released theatrically in the United States by Paramount Pictures on December 20, 2024.[22]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Sonic the Hedgehog was developed by Sonic Team, published by Sega, directed and programmed by Yuji Naka, designed by Hirokazu Yasuhara, and illustrated by Naoto Ohshima.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ "The bizarre evolution of Sonic the Hedgehog". Business Insider. February 13, 2020. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "How Sega conquered the video games industry – and then threw it all away". The Independent. February 16, 2020. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Bankhurst, Adam (February 2, 2024). "Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Adds Krysten Ritter, Cristo Fernández, Alyla Browne, and More". IGN. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Tinoco, Armando (November 29, 2023). "'Sonic The Hedgehog 3' Teases First Look At Shadow". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  5. ^ Browne, Alyla [@alylabrowne] (February 16, 2024). "Heheh 💙🦔🤪". Retrieved February 16, 2024 – via Instagram.
  6. ^ a b Kroll, Justin (February 15, 2022). "Sonic The Hedgehog Universe Continues To Grow As Sega And Paramount Sign Off On Third Film As Well As A Knuckles Spin-Off Series In The Works At Paramount+ With Idris Elba Reprising Role". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Lang, Brent (February 2, 2024). "Jim Carrey Returning for 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  8. ^ "Rundown: Sonic writers Patrick Casey and Josh Miller talk details about upcoming third Sonic movie". Tails' Channel. May 26, 2022. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  9. ^ Perine, Aaron (March 6, 2020). "Sonic the Hedgehog Star James Marsden Confirms He's Signed on for Multiple Sequels". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  10. ^ Sharf, Zack (April 1, 2022). "Jim Carrey 'Fairly Serious' About Retiring From Acting: 'I Have Enough. I've Done Enough'". Variety. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  11. ^ Dick, Jeremy (April 7, 2022). "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Producers Believe Jim Carrey Would Return for Part 3". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  12. ^ Otterson, Joe (April 17, 2023). "'Sonic the Hedgehog' Spinoff Series 'Knuckles' at Paramount+ Sets Cast, Including Adam Pally, Tika Sumpter". Variety. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Megan Garside (February 21, 2024). "Sonic star Ben Schwartz gives promising update on the upcoming third movie". gamesradar. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  14. ^ Williams, Sophie (July 30, 2023). "Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Begins Filming in Surrey with Leaked Set Images". Maxblizz. Archived from the original on July 30, 2023. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  15. ^ Paz, Maggie Dela (June 20, 2023). "Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Production Start Date Revealed for Ben Schwartz-Led Movie". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  16. ^ "'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' Sets Summer Filming Date in London". Collider. June 20, 2023. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  17. ^ Tabbara, Mona (August 8, 2023). "UK crews in crisis as SAG-AFTRA strike thwarts production: "Is the UK industry really our own?"". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  18. ^ DeAngelo, Mike (March 14, 2024). "'Knox Goes Away': Michael Keaton & James Marsden On Their Crime Drama, Batman, 'Sonic 3,' & 'Beetlejuice' [The Discourse Podcast]". theplaylist.net. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  19. ^ Bevan, Rhiannon (December 16, 2023). "Crush 40 Says Live & Learn Could Appear In Sonic 3". TheGamer. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  20. ^ "Tom Holkenborg to Return for Jeff Fowler's 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3'". Film Music Reporter. January 31, 2024. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  21. ^ Grayson, Nathan (February 6, 2024). ""Live And Learn," The Anthem Of A Generation, Will Be In The Next Sonic Movie – Aftermath". aftermath.site. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  22. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 9, 2022). "Paramount Sets Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Release, Pushes Date For Smurfs Animated Musical". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.

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