- Fourth instalment of the Sonic franchise is in the works
- Sonic 3 has been a hit at the box office over Christmas and New Year
- Hints have been given about potential plots for Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog has been a hit at the box office again over Christmas and New Year, so it is no surprise that Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has been greenlit.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 took more than $200 million worldwide in the first couple of weeks of its release, performing well against other blockbusters such as Mufasa: The Lion King. It has also received generally positive reviews from critics and fans alike.
The success was anticipated, as Sonic the Hedgehog 4 was greenlit just before the third film hit theaters on December 20. Here is all we know about the next instalment in the series.
What is the plot of Sonic the Hedgehog 4
We already have some idea of the plot for the next movie thanks to the post-credit scenes in Sonic 3. WARNING – spoilers ahead.
After Sonic, Tails and Knuckles had saved the world and everything had gone back to normal, Sonic is back in the Green Hills when he suddenly encounters a mechanoid version of himself. Fans of the Sonic games instantly recognised it was Metal Sonic. As Sonic is surrounded by an army of Metal Sonics, another figure appears with a large mallet and starts smashing them – fan favorite Amy Rose.
Interestingly, these were two of the favorites to appear in the post-credit scene for Sonic 3, as mentioned here.
In the final post-credit scene – for those who stuck around right to the end of the credits to see it – we also learn that Shadow isn’t dead. So it seems likely he will have a role in the next film.
While those give a couple of strong indications as to where the next movie will do, Sonic writer Pat Casey has also recently added that the next film may take place in space. Speaking to CBR, he said: “For Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the story was all about all this military stuff and it was inherently Earthbound. But possibly in the future, we might get out into some more fantastic places.”
Who will be appearing in Sonic 4
While the cast hasn’t been confirmed yet, it would be a pretty safe bet to assume that the voice actors for the main characters – Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Idris Elba as Knuckles and Colleen O’Shaughnessy as Tails – will return again.
Likewise, Sonic’s human friends Tom and Maddie Wachowski – played by James Marsden and Tika Sumpter – will also probably return.
It hasn’t yet been confirmed if Keanu Reeves will return to voice Shadow, but it again seems likely.
It also appears that Jim Carrey is open to returning as Sonic’s long-term enemy, Dr Robotnik/Eggman. Speaking to Cinema Today (via Screen Rant), Carrey said he was “definitely open” to returning in a fourth film. He added that a decision would come down to the idea given to him by the creative team. “They come to me with the next idea, and if I go, “That sounds fun,” then I’ll do it. I don’t feel locked to anything in life, unless it is something that interests me. I certainly love this crew, I love this gang that makes these movies, and I love the fans.”
However, a potential wrinkle in this is that the character was seemingly killed off at the end of Sonic 3. But a body was not seen – and as everyone knows in movies, unless you see a body, then there is always the possibility the character isn’t dead.
When is Sonic 4 in theaters
While there isn’t a specific release date yet, it has been slated for release in Spring 2027.
