Summary
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3's success prompts Paramount to greenlight a fourth film; Sonic the Hedgehog 4 set to release in spring 2027.
- Jeff Fowler expected to direct Sonic the Hedgehog 4, with pre-production slated to begin in February.
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3 breaks records as highest-grossing franchise entry, praised for Jim Carrey's performance.
As Sonic the Hedgehog 3 continues to shatter franchise records both critically and commercially, Paramount is moving full steam ahead with another sequel.
Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog has defied the video game movie curse time and again, with the film franchise having generated more box office revenue and warmer reception with each subsequent entry. In addition to garnering over one billion dollars across the trilogy, the Paramount+ spin-off series, Knuckles, set a milestone of its own by becoming the most-watched series on the streaming platform. Sonic has since become one of Paramount's more consistent and reliable franchises, prompting the studio to greenlight a fourth film one day before Sonic the Hedgehog 3's North American opening. With Sonic the Hedgehog 4 set to bow in spring 2027, work on the sequel is slated to start imminently.
6 Sonic Games To Play If You Loved The Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Movie
Fans of the film will enjoy these Shadow-infused games.
According to Production List, which tracks pre-production on projects across the film and television industry, development on Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is set to begin as soon as this February. The site notes that Jeff Fowler, the director of the Sonic trilogy and the first episode of Knuckles, is expected to assume directing duties once more. The Film and Television Alliance-backed site also mentions that the sequel will offer plenty of opportunities across many pre-production departments for crew members and production professionals.
The news comes off the heels of Sonic the Hedgehog 3's global success. The film has already eclipsed Sonic the Hedgehog 2's $190 million domestic total at the box office last week — an achievement that only took Sonic the Hedgehog 3 nineteen days to accomplish — and is expected to overtake its predecessor's worldwide $405 million haul in the coming days to become the highest-grossing entry in the franchise. The film also earned 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and currently stands as one of the highest-rated video game film adaptations ever made, with many praising Jim Carrey's performances as Ivo and Gerald Robotnik as one of the film's highlights.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 closed out "Fearless:The Year of Shadow," Sega's Shadow-centric promotional campaign that shone a spotlight on the hedgehog through several events and the release of an animated mini-series that led into his very own campaign in the acclaimed Sonic X Shadow Generations. The game also features Keanu Reeves, who voiced Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, where he reprised the role in a piece of downloadable content inspired by the film.
Despite all the continued success Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is receiving, it will not be in the running for an Oscar this year. While winning the most coveted award in the film industry is not a possibility, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 furthers the golden age of video game adaptations, joined by the likes of The Last of Us and Fallout, by offering unique interpretations that honor the source material.
- Release Date
- December 20, 2024
- Director
- Jeff Fowler
- Writers
- Pat Casey, Josh Miller, John Whittington
- Prequel(s)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Franchise(s)
- Sonic the Hedgehog
Cast
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Ben Schwartz
Directed by Jeff Fowler, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sets up a new threat for Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails by introducing Shadow the Hedgehog. Shadow presents such a big danger to planet Earth, that the heroes have to team up with Dr. Robotnik.
Source: Production List