Paramount has unveiled the first trailer for “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” featuring the infamous Shadow the Hedgehog as one of the blue speedster’s notable adversaries, voiced by Keanu Reeves. The movie is set to hit theaters on December 20.
This third installment, which received the green light before the release of the second film in 2022, aims to delve into new territories of Sega’s video game universe. While specific plot details are still under wraps, the post-credits scene from “Sonic 2” hinted at Shadow’s appearance.
Ben Schwartz will once again voice Sonic, and the live-action cast from the previous two films will reprise their roles, including Jim Carrey as the villainous Dr. Robotnik, James Marsden as Tom Wachowski, Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski, and Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone. Colleen O’Shaughnessey will return as the voice of Miles “Tails” Prower, and Idris Elba will reprise his role as Knuckles the Echidna.
Elba recently appeared in Paramount+’s live-action spinoff series “Knuckles,” which followed his character adapting to life on Earth after his introduction in “Sonic 2.” The series also included Adam Pally as sheriff Wade Whipple and featured cameos by Schwartz and O’Shaughnessey. In this miniseries, Knuckles trains Wade to become his protégé in the ways of the Echidna warrior, set between the events of “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.”
“Sonic the Hedgehog” debuted in theaters in February 2020, followed by its sequel in April 2022. The two films collectively grossed over $724 million worldwide. Jeff Fowler, the director of the first two films, will return for this third entry.