Most recently, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 came out in April 2022,
surpassing its predecessor's box office earnings and winning praise for its
pleasing visuals, blending of humor and action, and charming performances -
especially the one turned in by newcomer Idris Elba, who voiced Knuckles.
The movie also saw the returns of Ben Schwartz as the voice
of Sonic, as well as Jim Carrey, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, and James Marsden.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was announced by Sega and Paramount Pictures a month
before the sequel premiered.
Currently, plot and character details for Sonic the Hedgehog
3 are slim. However, the movie is expected to pick up from the cliffhanger
ending of the sequel and introduce a new villain in the form of the notorious
Shadow. Since Carrey has retired from acting, he is not expected to return as
Dr. Robotnik, although the filmmakers have decided not to recast his character.
Schwartz previously teased that the film is "going to
be bananas," with subsequent details indicating that Sonic the Hedgehog 3
will include elements from the video games Sonic Adventure 2 and Shadow the
Hedgehog. Details on Sonic the Hedgehog 3 have been scant since, although now
there is a major update.
As confirmed by Sonic the Hedgehog's official social media,
the threequel has been scheduled to premiere on December 20, 2024. No further
details have been revealed, but it's nevertheless reassuring to know that the
movie has managed to secure an auspicious holiday release window. Take a look
at the tweet below.
Running faster, flying higher, and punching harder. #SonicMovie3 hits theatres on December 20, 2024. pic.twitter.com/DcFGbaKUao
— Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) August 9, 2022
The new release date for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 continues the
trend of leaving two years between movies in the franchise, so all installments
will hopefully feel evenly spaced out. Right now, the date confirmation doesn't
give much of an idea about the movie's story, although it indicates that a
similar announcement could arrive soon for the Knuckles spinoff, which will see
Elba reprising his red echidna role. The Knuckles show will set up Sonic 3, so
it seems likely that the project will start to move forward now that the movie
has a release date. There is plenty of room for both over the next two years.
Now the question of how Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will resolve
some of its most pressing dilemmas remains. The immediate task the movie needs
to take care of is addressing Carrey's potential exit and explaining how the
threequel will handle Dr. Robotnik's absence. In the games, Dr. Robotnik had a
crucial role in bringing his grandfather's Project Shadow to life and provoking
the conflict between Sonic and Shadow.
However, with Robotnik presumably not returning for Sonic
the Hedgehog 3, the movie might choose to tweak Shadow's backstory, associating
him with Guardian Units of Nations (G.U.N.) instead of Robotnik. Additionally,
with a premiere date set, Sonic 3 could also reveal other game characters that
might show up in the film. That said, with a release in sight, audiences can
expectmore exciting updates from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in the coming months.