Moviefone Editorial

Tag: sonic-the-hedgehog

Best Movies Adapted from Video Games Ranked

(L to R) Luigi (Charlie Day), Mario (Chris Pratt), Yoshi (Donald Glover) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) in Nintendo and Illumination’s ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic.

Video game movies have come a long way over the years!

Early adaptations like 1993’s ‘Super Mario Bros.‘ and 1994’s ‘Street Fighter‘ struggled to capture what made their source material so popular, but Hollywood has finally started to crack the code.
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But in recent years, studios have found real success with films like ‘Uncharted‘ and ‘A Minecraft Movie‘, as well as the ‘Resident Evil‘, ‘Sonic the Hedgehog‘, and ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s‘ franchises.

Now, the long-awaited sequel to 2023’s blockbuster smash ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘, entitled ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie‘, is scheduled for release in theaters on April 1st and promises to be another monster hit.

In honor of the new sequel’s release, Moviefone is counting down the 20 best movies adapted from video games of all time, including ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’.

Let’s begin!

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’

20. ‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time‘ (2010)

Jake Gyllenhaal stars in ‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time’. Photo: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

A rogue prince (Jake Gyllenhaal) reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess (Gemma Arterton) and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time – gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.
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19. ‘Assassin’s Creed‘ (2016)

Through a technology that unlocks the genetic memories of his ancestor in 15th century Spain, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) discovers he is a descendant of an ancient line of Assassins and amasses lethal skills to take on the oppressive Templar Order.
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18. ‘Need for Speed‘ (2014)

The film revolves around a local street-racer (Aaron Paul) who partners with a rich and arrogant business associate (Dominic Cooper), only to find himself framed by his colleague and sent to prison. After he gets out, he joins a New York-to-Los Angeles race to get revenge. But when the ex-partner learns of the scheme, he puts a massive bounty on the racer’s head, forcing him to run a cross-country gauntlet of illegal racers in all manner of supercharged vehicles.
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17. ‘Warcraft‘ (2016)

The peaceful realm of Azeroth stands on the brink of war as its civilization faces a fearsome race of invaders: orc warriors fleeing their dying home to colonize another. As a portal opens to connect the two worlds, one army faces destruction and the other faces extinction. From opposing sides, two heroes are set on a collision course that will decide the fate of their family, their people, and their home.
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16. ‘Until Dawn‘ (2025)

One year after her sister Melanie (Maia Mitchell) mysteriously disappeared, Clover (Ella Rubin) and her friends head into the remote valley where she vanished in search of answers. Exploring an abandoned visitor center, they find themselves stalked by a masked killer and horrifically murdered one by one…only to wake up and find themselves back at the beginning of the same evening.
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15. ‘Rampage‘ (2018)

Dwayne Johnson in ‘Rampage’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Primatologist Davis Okoye (Dwayne Johnson) shares an unshakable bond with George, the extraordinarily intelligent, silverback gorilla who has been in his care since birth. But a rogue genetic experiment gone awry mutates this gentle ape into a raging creature of enormous size. To make matters worse, it’s soon discovered there are other similarly altered animals. As these newly created alpha predators tear across North America, destroying everything in their path, Okoye teams with a discredited genetic engineer (Naomie Harris) to secure an antidote, fighting his way through an ever-changing battlefield, not only to halt a global catastrophe but to save the fearsome creature that was once his friend.
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14. ‘Tomb Raider‘ (2018)

Lara Croft (Alicia Vikander), the fiercely independent daughter of a missing adventurer (Dominic West), must push herself beyond her limits when she finds herself on the island where her father disappeared.
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13. ‘Resident Evil: Afterlife‘ (2010)

In a world ravaged by a virus infection, turning its victims into the Undead, Alice (Milla Jovovich) continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend (Ali Larter). A new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead takes them to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands of Undead – and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap.
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12. ‘Hitman‘ (2007)

A genetically engineered assassin with deadly aim, known only as “Agent 47” (Timothy Olyphant) eliminates strategic targets for a top-secret organization. But when he’s double-crossed, the hunter becomes the prey as 47 finds himself in a life-or-death game of international intrigue.
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11. ‘Iron Lung‘ (2026)

The stars are gone. The planets have disappeared. Only individuals aboard space stations or starships were left to give the end a name — The Quiet Rapture. After decades of decay and crumbling infrastructure, the Consolidation of Iron has made a discovery on a barren moon designated AT-5. An ocean of blood. Hoping to discover desperately needed resources they immediately launch an expedition. A submarine is crafted and a convict is welded inside. Due to the pressure and depth of the ocean the forward viewport has been encased in metal. If successful, they will earn their freedom. If not, another will follow. This will be the 13th expedition.
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10. ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie‘ (2026)

(L to R) Yoshi (Donald Glover), Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) in Nintendo and Illumination’s ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic.

Having thwarted Bowser’s (Jack Black) previous plot to marry Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) now face a fresh threat in Bowser Jr. (Benny Safdie), who is determined to liberate his father from captivity and restore the family legacy. Alongside companions new and old, the brothers travel across the stars to stop the young heir’s crusade.
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9. ‘Uncharted‘ (2022)

Street-smart thief Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor “Sully” Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) to recover a fortune lost by Ferdinand Magellan 500 years ago. What starts as a heist job for the duo becomes a globe-trotting, white-knuckle race to reach the prize before the ruthless Moncada (Antonio Banderas), who believes he and his family are the rightful heirs. If Nate and Sully can decipher the clues and solve one of the world’s oldest mysteries, they stand to find $5 billion in treasure and perhaps even Nate’s long-lost brother…but only if they can learn to work together.
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8. ‘Pokémon Detective Pikachu‘ (2019)

In a world where people collect pocket-size monsters (Pokémon) to do battle, a boy (Justice Smith) comes across an intelligent monster (Ryan Reynolds) who seeks to be a detective.
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7. ‘A Minecraft Movie‘ (2025)

Four misfits (Sebastian Eugene Hansen, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, and Jason Momoa) find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they’ll have to master this world while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve (Jack Black).
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6. ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s‘ (2023)

Recently fired and desperate for work, a troubled young man named Mike (Josh Hutcherson) agrees to take a position as a night security guard at an abandoned theme restaurant: Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. But he soon discovers that nothing at Freddy’s is what it seems.
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5. ‘Sonic the Hedgehog‘ (2020)

Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Powered with incredible speed, Sonic The Hedgehog (Ben Schwartz) embraces his new home on Earth. That is, until Sonic sparks the attention of super-uncool evil genius Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey). Now it’s super-villain vs. super-sonic in an all-out race across the globe to stop Robotnik from using Sonic’s unique power for world domination.
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4. ‘Mortal Kombat‘ (2021)

MMA fighter Cole Young (Lewis Tan), accustomed to taking a beating for money, is unaware of his heritage or why Outworld’s Emperor Shang Tsung (Chin Han) has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt Cole down. Fearing for his family’s safety, Cole goes in search of Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee) at the direction of Jax (Mehcad Brooks), a Special Forces Major who bears the same strange dragon marking Cole was born with. Soon, he finds himself at the temple of Lord Raiden (Tadanabu Asano), an Elder God and the protector of Earthrealm, who grants sanctuary to those who bear the mark. Here, Cole trains with experienced warriors Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), Kung Lao (Max Huang) and rogue mercenary Kano (Josh Lawson), as he prepares to stand with Earth’s greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe. But will Cole be pushed hard enough to unlock his arcana, ”the immense power from within his soul”, in time to save not only his family, but to stop Outworld once and for all?
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3. ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider‘ (2001)

Orphaned heiress, English aristocrat and intrepid archaeologist, Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie), embarks on a dangerous quest to retrieve the two halves of an ancient artifact which controls time before it falls into the wrong hands. As an extremely rare planetary alignment is about to occur for the first time in 5,000 years, the fearless tomb raider will have to team up with rival adventurers and sworn enemies to collect the pieces, while time is running out. But, in the end, who can harness the archaic talisman’s unlimited power?
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2. ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘ (2023)

While working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers—and brothers—Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world. But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi.
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1. ‘Resident Evil‘ (2002)

Milla Jovovich in ‘Resident Evil’. Photo: Screen Gems.

When a virus leaks from a top-secret facility, turning all resident researchers into ravenous zombies and their lab animals into mutated hounds from hell, the government sends in an elite military task force to contain the outbreak.
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April 25, 2026
Paramount Plans New Live-Action ‘Ninja Turtles’ Movie
‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ (2014). Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Preview:
- Paramount wants to make a new, live-action ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ movie.
- Neal H. Moritz will produce.
- A plan for an R-rated ‘Turtles’ movie is on hold for now.
Paramount giveth (probably) and Paramount taketh away.

The studio is making moves for one of its popular franchise, the comic-book-birthed ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,’ much as it recently did with ‘Star Trek.’

According to The Hollywood Reporter, prolific producer Neal H. Moritz (who has the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise and Paramount’s own ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ movies on his extensive resume making a deal to oversee a new, family-friendly live-action ‘TMNT’ movie, which will exist separately from the sequel to animated delight ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,’ which is in production via producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.
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It does, however, mean that forward development on a darker, grittier Turtles outing, ‘The Last Ronin,’ a live-action/CG animation hybrid project that was in development as an R-rated feature, and had ‘Nobody’ filmmaker Ilya Naishuller in talks to direct, is on indefinite pause.

That one will have to dwell in a sewer for now. And the studio has also cancelled future episodes of animated series ‘Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,’ an animated small-screen spin-off from ‘Mutant Mayhem.’

Related Article: Every ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Movie Ranked

What is the history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ (1990). Photo: New Line.

The main mutant foursome –– Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo –– first burst onto the pop cultural scene via Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s 1984 comic book, launched as a satire of other titles at the time.

That first run was a huge hit, and has since spawned a vast media empire encompassing several animated TV series, a number of movies and enough merchandise to clog New York’s sewers.

Leo and co. famously hit the big screen back in 1990 in a New Line movie that used Jim Henson’s creature shop to bring the title characters to life. That generated two others, but Paramount took its own shot at “live-action” Turtles with two movies using performance-captured characters, 2014’s ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ and 2016’s ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows,’ the latter of which was a flop.

‘Mutant Mayhem’ was received much more kindly and did healthy business, but now the aim is for Moritz to bring a similar all-ages feel as he has to ‘Sonic.’

When will the new ‘TMNT’ movie be on screens?

‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ (2014). Photo: Paramount Pictures.

With zero creative talent attached yet, it’s much too early to speculate; but you know Paramount –– which owns the Turtles outright as opposed to sharing as with ‘Transformers’ –– will want to get something to theaters as soon as possible.

The yet-to-be-titled ‘Mutant Mayhem’ sequel, which sees the return of director Jeff Rowe, is scheduled for release in September 2027.

(L to R) Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo in Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies in a Point Grey Production ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.’

Selected ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Movies
- ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles‘ (1990)
- ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze‘ (1991)
- ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III‘ (1993)
- ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles‘ (2014)
- ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows‘ (2016)
- ‘Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles‘ (2019)
- ‘Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie‘ (2022)
- ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ (2023)
Buy ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Movies & TV on Amazon
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November 26, 2025
Movie Review: ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’
(L to R) Jim Carrey as Ivo Robotnik and Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.

Opening in theaters on December 20th, ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ marks the third outing for the popular movie franchise spawned by the video game character best known for super speed and collecting rings.

The former is on full display in this new film, which reunites much of the major players from the previous movies, while the idea of the portal rings largely takes a backseat (aside from a couple of key moments).

And this movie offers largely more of the same, albeit with a little more entertainment value from the occasionally stalled second entry.

Related Article: Jim Carrey Will be Back as Dr. Robotnik for ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’

Will ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ Run Away with Your Praise?

(L to R) Knuckles (Idris Elba), Sonic (Ben Schwartz) and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.

The ‘Sonic’ movies by this point are certainly a known quantity. You have Ben Schwartz providing chatty energy as the lead character. Solid support from the likes of Idris Elba and Colleen O’Shaughnessey as fellow video game-birthed characters Knuckles and Tails respectively (since this is a franchise that employs the strategy of hoovering up characters from previous installments and turning rivals into family). Lots of silly gags. Jim Carrey snacking on the scenery in pure pantomime fashion.

‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ doesn’t break any of these rules, but it does deploy them effectively, while wrapping in much of the love-can-triumph-over-vengeance themes and making good choices concepts that parents might hope for (even if we’ve seen them many, many times before).

Script and Direction

(L to R) Director Jeff Fowler and Jim Carrey on the set of ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega.

The script from returning writing veterans Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington is also hewn from familiar rock. We’re re-introduced to Sonic and friends attempting to get in some downtime at a campsite (while also celebrating the anniversary of the spiky hero’s arrival on Earth), only for a powerful new threat (Keanu Reeves’ Shadow the Hedgehog) to put those plans on hold.

It’s full of what you expect from a ‘Sonic’ movie but put together with enough style and fun to make it worthwhile. The dynamics between the various characters are established and there are enough surprising new elements (more on that when we get to the “performances” section) to keep things moving at a decent clip.

(L to R) Director Jeff Fowler and Jim Carrey on the set of ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega.

While there are some expected, slightly mawkish emotional moments along the way, there’s also some welcome undercutting of such easily exploited tropes. The story is never really the most important element –– expect the usual world-threatening McGuffin and a new antagonist with emotional issues.

As director, Jeff Fowler is also well versed in bringing the ‘Sonic’ universe to life, and he’s still on the top of his game here. The human characters (aside from Carrey’s) are mostly shoved to the sidelines (though James Marsden and Tika Sumpter do get a few decent moments) and the focus is on our titular hero.

The effects are still up to a decent, slightly cartoony standard (the days of “ugly sonic” are long behind us) and the action moves along at a solid clip.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Knuckles (Idris Elba), Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey, James Marsden as Tom and Tika Sumpter as Maddie in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.

The central combination of Schwartz’s winning motormouth delivery as Sonic and Carrey’s try-anything zaniness can eclipse all else, but there is a solid antagonist this time around.

Ben Schwartz as Sonic

Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.

Schwartz has really leaned into the fun as Sonic, and even though he’s only ever in a recording booth for the role, his contribution is clear. You can imagine the sheer number of alternate line-readings for each moment, and the actor delivers both the laughs and the emotional moments effectively.

Jim Carrey as Ivo Robotnik/Gerald Robotnik

(L to R) Jim Carrey as Ivo Robotnik and Gerald Robotnik in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.

If you’ve seen the trailer, you know that the third ‘Sonic’ features double the Jim Carrey. Reports of Ivo Robotnik’s death at the end of the second movie are naturally exaggerated and he’s back. This time, Carrey not only gets to play a new side of the not-so-good Doctor, who we first meet here as a lazy slob binge-watching telenovelas.

But we’re also introduced to his grandfather Gerald, whose story is tied in with Shadow’s, and has some emotional resonance. The gusto with which he throws himself into the dual role is something to watch, and if this is what an actor does when they’re just picking up a paycheck (as he himself recently admitted, then other performers take note!

Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog

Shadow (Keanu Reeves) in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.

The main casting coup this time is playing the man who was Neo as the new “villain”, though with the actor’s soulful turns, he’s more than that. Reeves commits to the role of the bitter, vengeful character and works well against Schwartz’s excited energy.

Idris Elba as Knuckles

Knuckles (Idris Elba) in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.

While Elba is typically low-key, he’s found a good gear as the echidna warrior, who is always ready for a fight, but is slowly coming to realize that being around Sonic and the rest is good for him.

Supporting Cast

(L to R) Tika Sumpter plays Maddie and James Marsden plays Tom in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America; Inc.

As mentioned, human co-stars James Marsden and Tika Sumpter are certainly moved slightly to the side (though they both have roles to play in the finale). Colleen O’Shaughnessey is an effervescent Tails and there’s a welcome emotional growth even for the likes of Lee Majdoub’s Agent Stone, Robotnik’s loyal sidekick, who here sees some competition in the grandfather character.

Final Thoughts

Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America; Inc.

While it certainly doesn’t re-invent the wheel when it comes to a ‘Sonic’ adventure, it has enough laughs to keep the family engaged.

And, of course, you’re encouraged to stay through the credits for the contractual tease of what might be to come in the future (yes, ‘Sonic 4’ was announced just before the release of this one.)

‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the plot of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’?

Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Knuckles (Idris Elba), and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow (Keanu Reeves), a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before.

With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet.

Who is in the cast of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’?
- 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
- Jim Carrey as Dr. Ivo Robotnik and Professor Gerald Robotnik
- James Marsden as Tom Wachowski
- Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski
- Krysten Ritter as Director Rockwell
- Natasha Rothwell as Rachel
- Shemar Moore as Randall Handel
- Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone
- Tom Butler as Commander Walters
- Adam Pally as Wade Whipple
- Alyla Browne as Maria Robotnik
(L to R) Jim Carrey as Ivo Robotnik and Gerald Robotnik, Shadow (Keanu Reeves) and Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.

Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Franchise:
- ‘Sonic the Hedgehog‘ (2020)
- ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2‘ (2022)
- ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3‘ (2024)
- ‘Knuckles‘ (2024)
Buy Tickets: ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ Movie Showtimes

Buy ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Movies On Amazon
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December 24, 2024
Keanu Reeves to Voice Shadow in ‘Sonic 3’
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.’

Preview:
- Keanu Reeves is reportedly lending his voice to ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’.
- Jeff Fowler once more directed the movie.
- ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ will be in theaters on December 20th.
While Paramount touted the success of its ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ franchise at its big CinemaCon presentation last week (and showed a footage snippet of the upcoming third entry –– more on that below), the studio stopped short of announcing who would be voicing Shadow the Hedgehog, a new character (at least in the movies) who will be causing trouble for our hero.

But now, thanks to The John Campea Show (and since confirmed by the trades), the news has leaked that no less an actor than Keanu Reeves will be providing the voice for shadow. With ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ wrapped for a while and post-production already under way, we assume he’s already started in the voice booth or will be reporting for duty shortly.
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What’s the story of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’?

Jim Carrey in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.

Nothing has been officially released about the story for the new ‘Sonic’ movie, though we can predict more speedy behavior from the main character and a fresh devious scheme from Robotnik, though the footage shown at CinemaCon shows Jim Carrey’s villain as out of shape and depressed, only to get his groove back when he creates Shadow, described as a dark twin for the titular hero.

How James Marsden’s Tom Wachowski figures in this time remains to be seen, and we’ll also see the return of Sonic’s fellow CG creations Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey). Ben Schwartz, of course, returns to voice Sonic.

Rumors have suggested a potential trip through time and the film’s social media account kicked off the start of shoot with a teaser for Shadow.

Related Article: Idris Elba Voices the Echidna Warrior in the full trailer for ‘Knuckles’

Who is Shadow the Hedgehog?

Jim Carrey and Knuckles (Idris Elba) in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.

Shadow, created by Takashi Iizuka and Shiro Maekawa, first appeared in 2001’s ‘Sonic Adventure 2’.

In the games’ canon, he was created by Professor Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of the series’ antagonist Doctor Robotnik. After witnessing the death of his best friend Maria Robotnik, Shadow initially seeks revenge, but later vows to keep his promise to her that he would protect the world from danger. An antihero, Shadow has good intentions but will do whatever it takes to accomplish his goals, putting him at odds with Sonic.

From the sounds of it, the movie is tweaking his origin story to bring in more of the movie’s narrative, but we’ll see how it all shakes out.

Who is making ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’?

Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Jeff Fowler is once again directing the third movie, having handled the first two, with the script from regular writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller.

Neal H. Moritz is producing this one, as he has the others.

The ‘Sonic’ universe has so far spawned the three movies and the upcoming TV spin-off featuring the Knuckles character, which kicks off on April 26th.

When will ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ be in theaters?

‘Sonic 3’ will dash into theaters on December 20th.

(L to R) Knuckles (Idris Elba) and Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3:’
- ‘Super Mario Bros.’ (1993)
- ‘The Lego Movie‘ (2014)
- ‘The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part‘ (2019)
- ‘Sonic the Hedgehog‘ (2020)
- ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2‘ (2022)
- ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves‘ (2023)
- ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘ (2023)
- ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s‘ (2023)
- ‘Gran Turismo‘ (2023)
Buy Keanu Reeves Movies on Amazon
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April 17, 2024
‘Knuckles’: Full Trailer for the ‘Sonic’ Spin-Off Series
Preview:
- The Paramount+ ‘Knuckles’ series has a new trailer.
- The ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ spin-off features Idris Elba as the voice of the title character.
- ‘Knuckles’ starts streaming on April 26th.
With the success of 2020’s ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ and 2022 sequel ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ (a combined box office haul of $725.2 million so far) Paramount is naturally looking to keep the speedy cash train running.

A third ‘Sonic’ movie outing is due in theaters on December 20th (and recently confirmed the return of Jim Carrey as the scheming Dr. Robotnik), but for young fans of the franchise who don’t want to wait that long, there is another ‘Sonic’-based story on its way.

‘Knuckles’, a series for Paramount+ that focuses on the warrior echidna voiced by Idris Elba, has been in the works for a while and has a new trailer online, with a Super Bowl spot to follow at the weekend.

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What’s the story of ‘Knuckles’?

Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) in ‘Knuckles,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

The new live-action event series follows Knuckles (Elba) on a hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade (Adam Pally) as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior.

We can also see that Knuckles will come under threat from a new set of baddies, who seem bent on stealing his powers.

‘Knuckles’ will take place between the events of the second and third ‘Sonic’ movies.

Related Article: Jim Carrey Will be Back as Dr. Robotnik for ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’

Who else appears in ‘Knuckles’?

(L to R) Scott Mescudi as Agent Mason and Ellie Taylor as Agent Willoughby in ‘Knuckles,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

Alongside Elba and Pally, the ensemble cast includes guest stars Stockard Channing, Edi Patterson, Scott Mescudi, Ellie Taylor, Julian Barratt, Rory McCann, Cary Elwes, Christopher Lloyd, Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel.

And returning from the movie cast are Ben Schwartz, who reprises his role as Sonic, as well as special guest star Tika Sumpter, as Maddie. Colleen O’Shaughnessey will also return as a special guest star in her role as Tails.

Who is making ‘Knuckles’?

Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) in ‘Knuckles,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

The series’ creative team includes the movies’ director Jeff Fowler, who handled the pilot episode and helped transition the film’s signature cinematic animation style to television. Additional directors for the series include Ged Wright, Brandon Trost, Jorma Taccone and Carol Banker.

The series was created for television by John Whittington and showrunner Toby Ascher. Whittington wrote the second movie, serves as head writer and wrote the pilot for the series. Additional writers include Brian Schacter and James Madejski.

When will ‘Knuckles’ be on screens?

All six episodes of ‘Knuckles’ will land on Paramount+ on April 26th.

A still from ‘Knuckles,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) in ‘Knuckles,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) in ‘Knuckles’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

Mac (voiced by Christopher Lloyd) in ‘Knuckles’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) in ‘Knuckles’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

(L to R) Adam Pally as Wade Whipple and Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) in ‘Knuckles’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

(L to R) Stockard Channing as Wendy Whipple, ‘Knuckles’ (voiced by Idris Elba) and Edi Patterson as Wanda Whipple in Knuckles streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

(L to R) Tika Sumpter as Maddie, Tails (voiced by Colleen O’Shaughnessey) and Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz) in ‘Knuckles,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

(L to R) Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) and Daniel Singh as Cattleprod Bounty Hunter in ‘Knuckles,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

(L to R) Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) and Rory McCann as The Buyer in ‘Knuckles,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

(L to R) Scott Mescudi as Agent Mason and Ellie Taylor as Agent Willoughby in ‘Knuckles,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

Julian Barratt as Jack Sinclair in ‘Knuckles,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

Adam Pally as Wade Whipple in ‘Knuckles,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

(L to R) Adam Pally as Wade Whipple, Alice Tregonning as Susie, Cary Elwes as Pistol Pete Whipple and Owen Warren as Pete’s Bowling Partner in ‘Knuckles’, streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

Adam Pally as Wade Whipple in ‘Knuckles,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Knuckles:’
- ‘Super Mario Bros.’ (1993)
- ‘The Lego Movie‘ (2014)
- ‘The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part‘ (2019)
- ‘Sonic the Hedgehog‘ (2020)
- ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2‘ (2022)
- ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves‘ (2023)
- ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘ (2023)
- ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s‘ (2023)
- ‘Gran Turismo‘ (2023)
Buy Idris Elba Movies on Amazon
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February 8, 2024
Jim Carey Returning for ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’
Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Preview:
- Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik is back for ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’.
- Jeff Fowler is directing the new movie.
- The film is due in December.
At the end of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ it –– spoiler alert for anyone who hasn’t seen the movie –– appeared that Jim Carrey’s cackling, scheming Dr. Robotnik had fallen to his death.

But as post-credit sting, however, it is revealed (again, spoiler alert) that Robotnik’s body is nowhere to be found and he’s actually potentially alive.

A new, tiny social media teaser for the third movie adapted from the video game franchise reveals that he is indeed back, as also reported by Variety.

You all thought I was gone, but I’ve just been underground. What you’ve seen from me is only a #shadow of things to come… pic.twitter.com/3W9Rh728Tt

— Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) February 2, 2024

What’s the story of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’?

Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Nothing has been officially released about the story for the new ‘Sonic’ movie, though we can predict more speedy behavior from the main character and a fresh devious scheme from Robotnik (also, mugging –– it is Jim Carrey, after all).

How James Marsden’s Tom Wachowski figures in this time remains to be seen, and we’ll also see the return of Sonic’s fellow CG creations Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey).

Rumors have suggested a potential trip through time and the film’s social media account kicked off the start of shoot with a teaser for Shadow the Hedgehog, who is a mysterious hedgehog associated with a secret government experiment called Project Shadow. He was obliquely referenced at the end of the second movie.

Off and RUNNING. #SonicMovie3
Only in theatres December 20, 2024 pic.twitter.com/BUIlurNIC0

— Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) November 29, 2023

Who is making ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’?

(L to R) Knuckles (Idris Elba) and Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega.

Jeff Fowler is once again directing the third movie, having handled the first two, with the script from regular writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller.

Neal H. Moritz is producing this one, as he has the others.

Carrey’s presence is a little surprising, since he said around the time of the second movie that he was effectively retiring from acting. But we suppose the sheer joy (or possibly an RV filled with cash) tempted him back.
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What else is planned for the Sonic the Hedgehog universe?

Jim Carrey and Knuckles (Idris Elba) in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.

With the success of the first two films, Paramount has naturally begun to try and build out a ‘Sonic’ universe, with a series based around the Knuckles character (with Elba back to voice him) already in the works.

In the show, Knuckles the Echidna teaches deputy Wade Whipple (Adam Pally) the techniques of the Echidna warrior. ‘Sonic’s fellow live-action actor Tika Sumpter is also aboard alongside the likes of Christopher Lloyd, Cary Elwes and Kid Cudi.

Related Article: Actors Ben Schwartz and James Marsden Talk New Movie ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’

When will ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ be in theaters?

Paramount as scheduled the movie for December 20th this year.

Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3:’
- ‘Super Mario Bros.’ (1993)
- ‘The Lego Movie‘ (2014)
- ‘The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part‘ (2019)
- ‘Sonic the Hedgehog‘ (2020)
- ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2‘ (2022)
- ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves‘ (2023)
- ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie‘ (2023)
- ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s‘ (2023)
- ‘Gran Turismo‘ (2023)
Buy Jim Carrey Movies on Amazon
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February 2, 2024
Ben Schwartz and James Marsden Talk ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’

Sonic (Ben Schwartz) and James Marsden in “Sonic The Hedgehog 2′ from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.

Opening in theaters on April 8th is the new movie ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2,’ which is a sequel to 2020’s ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ and is based on the popular Sega video game.

The movie once again stars Ben Schwartz (‘The Afterparty’) as the voice of Sonic, and adds to the cast Colleen O’Shaughnessey as the voice of Tails and Idris Elba as the voice of Knuckles. Jim Carrey also returns as the villain Dr. Ivo Robotnik, as well as James Marsden and Tika Sumpter who reprise their roles as Tom and Maddie Wachowski, respectively.

The plot of the new film revolves around the return of Dr. Robotnik (Carrey), with his new ally Knuckles (Elba), determined to take over the Earth. Now, Sonic (Schwartz) and his new friend Tails (O’Shaughnessey) must stop them before they succeed in their plans for world domination.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with actors Ben Schwartz and James Marsden about their work on ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2.’
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You can read our full interview with Ben Schwartz and James Marsden below, or watch a video of our interviews with Schwartz, Marsden, Lee Madjoub, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Collen O’Shaughnessey, and director Jeff Fowler in the player above.

Moviefone: To begin with Ben, what has Sonic been doing since the last time we saw him?

Ben Schwartz: Oh, my goodness. He has tried to turn himself into a superhero, like a Batman-type figure in the time between beating Robotnik. He’s got a little bit more confidence and he’s like, “You know what? I could do this all by myself.” He starts kind of pushing away from Tom and being like, “I can do this.” Throughout the movie we learn that it’s okay to ask for help. We also learned that you need your friends to get things done.

MF: James, in many ways Tom is like a father figure to Sonic. How has he been dealing with his with Sonic since the events of the last movie?

James Marsden: Yeah, he’s fumbling a little bit here and there. He’s still trying to learn how to be a dad. I think it caught him by surprise that he was going to have to take on that role because in the first movie they were more just pals.

They were sort of equal buddies, and now Tom and Maddie are seeing him act out. Not act out in a bad way, but the normal way that kids would on their way into their teenage years. He’s a unique one in the fact that he’s got all these crazy superpowers. He’s got a good heart, and he wants to do good and help people out. He’s just a little rough around the edges. He’s a diamond in the rough, I think. A shiny piece of coal.

MF: What kind of advice has Tom given to Sonic to try and help him?

JM: Well, I think Sonic has this image in his head of what he wants to be. He’s got the superpowers, and he grew up watching all these movies. He grew up watching ‘Batman’ and all these superhero movies, and he wants to be one of them. I think he’s a little stuck on the idea of being a hero and striking the right pose. Tom sort of redirects him and says, “It’s not about that. It’s about helping other people. It’s about taking responsibility for other people. It’s about knowing when to use your power and when not.”

That’s just something that Tom gently tries to instill in him without crushing his spirit or making him feel shamed or anything like that. It’s just like sort of a parental guidance thing. Hopefully, I think that if you see the film, it starts to settle into his subconscious. He finds himself maybe in situations where he has to be responsible for somebody else, and we see him make the right choices.

Jim Carrey and Knuckles (Idris Elba) in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.

MF: Ben, what can you tell us about the movie’s new characters, Tails and Knuckles?

BS: Well, if you are a fan of the video games, the two characters we introduced in this one are fan favorites. Tails is like a sycophant from Sonic’s world that comes in voiced by Colleen (O’Shaughnessey), who’s incredible and great at gadgets. Then we have the nemesis, Knuckles, who is played by Idris Elba and he has this brute strength. To actually see Sonic have someone that can match up and is even stronger than him is so exciting to see.

Also, he’s someone from his home planet, which is even more exciting because the idea is that he feels so detached from that world, and they’re finally coming here, but they’re already at odds with each other. So, it was super fun. Then to get to voice act alongside those two people was a dream come true.
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April 4, 2022
Latest ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ Trailer

Jim Carrey in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.

We’ve reached the stage of film promotion for ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ which sees studio Paramount rolling out what it describes as the “final” trailer. And with the movie headed to screens next month, that’s probably true – not counting TV spots and other sneak peeks, of course.

Still, this latest look at the fast-paced sequel offers a lot more detail about the story, which we’d only gotten the basic beats on before.

It opens at the wedding of Rachel (Natasha Rothwell), the sister of Dr. Maddie Wachowski (Tika Sumpter), herself the wife of James Marsden’s Tom. With the Hawaii-set nuptials in full swing, there’s an interruption when Tom’s phone rings (with the ‘Sonic’ game theme as his ringtone for the easter egg hunters).

Turns out Sonic (voiced again by Ben Schwartz) and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) are in real trouble on a frosty mountain and could use a ring-powered portal assist from Tom. Cue an avalanche of snow and two CG critters invading the tropical wedding setting.

The chaos springs from the fact that Dr. Ivo Robotnik (Jim Carrey, once again playing the role with all the gusto he can muster), is back from the planet he was banished to from the end of the first movie and has returned more powerful than ever before – he also looks a lot more like the game’s version of the villain.
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His great new power comes with zero responsibility, so he’s looking to cause major problems on Earth, taking out military hardware and responding cops. And to stop Sonic from interfering with his plan, he’s also brought a new, threatening warrior, Knuckles the Echidna, who has speedy, strong fists and the voice of Idris Elba. Definitely don’t go calling this guy a porcupine.

This new look at the movie offers more of Robotnik’s drones, some extra moments for two-tailed Sonic ally Tails (voiced, for those who recognize her, by the games’ O’Shaughnessey) and Marsden’s Tom.

There’s also fresh footage of Sonic’s attempts to be a Batman-like vigilante crusader known as Blue Justice. Let’s just say that his enthusiasm outweighs his actual abilities –he’s not likely to challenge Bruce Wayne on the crime-fighting front any time soon, but he does smile a lot more.

In addition to the returning likes of Adam Pally and Lee Majdoub, the cast now also includes Shemar Moore, playing Rachel’s intended husband.

Written once more by Pat Casey and Josh Miller (with John Whittington also contributing this time), ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ also sees director Jeff Fowler back calling the shots.

The movie will dash into theaters on April 8th.

And it’s clear that Paramount is pumped up about the spiny hero, since a third movie is already in development, alongside a spin-off TV series for Paramount Plus that will, like the movies, blend live-action and CG to focus on Elba’s Knuckles character.

Sonic is not running away from screens any time soon!

(L to R) Knuckles (Idris Elba) and Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega.
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March 15, 2022
‘A Quiet Place 2’ and ‘Playing With Fire’ Shift Dates After ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’s Move

Paramount

“Sonic the Hedgehog”s bump to 2020 means a number of other films are shuffling dates as well.

Paramount just moved up “A Quiet Place 2” from May 15, 2020 to March 20, 2020, so we’re getting the horror sequel more than two months earlier than expected. It’ll now be opening up against the biopic “I Still Believe,” starring K.J. Apa as Christian music star Jeremy Camp.

The studio is also moving family comedy “Playing With Fire” into “Sonic”‘s previous slot of November 8. The movie about “a crew of rugged fighters who meet their match when attempting to rescue three rambunctious kids,” stars Judy Greer, John Cena, and John Leguizamo.

Last year, the studio’s “Instant Family” did decent business in that slot with a $14.5 million opening and $67.3 million in total domestic box office.

[Via Deadline]

May 24, 2019
‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Movie Delayed to 2020 to Redesign Character

Paramount

Extreme Makeover: “Sonic the Hedgehog” Edition won’t be here until 2020.

Paramount has delayed the video game adaptation, which had been slated for a November 8 release and now will open Feb. 14, 2020. This will give the titular character more time to get an extreme makeover after vociferous fan backlash over the trailer.

Director Jeff Fowler tweeted that they were “taking a little more time to make Sonic just right.”

Taking a little more time to make Sonic just right.#novfxartistswereharmedinthemakingofthismovie pic.twitter.com/gxhu9lhU76

— Jeff Fowler (@fowltown) May 24, 2019

When the trailer dropped earlier this month, fans were horrified by Sonic’s CGI-created look, particularly that he had teeth and lean, muscular legs. Fowler and Paramount almost immediately responded by vowing to redesign the hedgehog.

“The message is loud and clear… you aren’t happy with the design & you want changes. It’s going to happen,” Fowler tweeted at the time.

Of course, that was going to be an enormous task — Sonic is the main character and a makeover would require a lot more visual effects work. But an adaptation of the classic Sega game has been in the works for a long time and Paramount is not going to take any chances on the movie’s success — thus, the delay.

In the movie, the blue speedster (voiced by Ben Schwartz) teams up with a small-town sheriff (James Marsden) when a power surge causes a blackout in the Pacific Northwest. They face off against Dr. Robotnik, a dastardly scientist/mastermind played with a great deal of hamminess by Jim Carrey.

May 24, 2019