Sega’s iconic blue blur is gearing up for his return to the big screen, and he will be going fast with both old and new company. Paramount has dropped the first teaser for Sonic the Hedgehog 4, two weeks after the start of production, confirming its final title and full cast.
The numbered tradition is no surprise, as are the Chaos Emeralds – a staple of Sega’s video game series – that appear in the clip, after Amy Rose’s hammer shatters a glass surface. “You think your world is safe, but your time is about to run out. The chaos has only just begun,” comes the familiar voice of Dr Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey in the films, before images of various characters are shown, starting with, of course, Ben Schwartz’s Sonic.
Dr Robotnik, Knuckles (Idris Elba), Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) then follow, with Keanu Reeves also set to reprise his role as the enigmatic fan-favourite Shadow. Rounding out the reveal are Tom and Maddie Wachowski (James Marsden and Tika Sumpster, respectively), Kristen Bell’s Amy Rose, and a fleeting look at Metal Sonic, who were both teased at the end of the third film.
Alongside the returning cast, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 will star franchise newcomers Ben Kingsley (Schindler’s List), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), Richard Ayoade (The Bad Guys), and Matt Berry (The IT Crowd) in undisclosed roles. Jeff Fowler is back in the director’s seat, while Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara are returning to produce.
Plot details are under wraps, but Fowler previously mentioned that the introduction of Metal Sonic has been a long time coming: “We actually had the idea pretty early, during storyboarding. [We wanted] to honour how they were both introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog CD. So it felt very cool to honour that chronology and have them simultaneously introduced.”
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is expected to race into theatres on 19 March 2027, with a separate spin-off slated for 22 December 2028.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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