Some set photos for the upcoming Sonic The Hedgehog sequel have appeared online. The photos recently surfaced on Twitter, and they appear to confirm the inclusion of the familiar red echidna sidekick, Knuckles.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a sequel to the 2020 live-action film based on the popular Japanese video game franchise. The first Sonic game came out in the early '90s and spawned dozens of sequels across multiple platforms. The games typically focus on the eponymous anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who can run at supersonic speeds and is constantly battling the evil Dr. Eggman. The film adaptation featured Ben Schwartz as Sonic and comedic actor Jim Carrey as the villain Dr. Robotnik, a mad scientist who seeks to possess Sonic's super-speed to conquer the world.
While the blue speedster was the first protagonist of these video games, future Sonic sequels featured other characters and sidekicks, such as a red echidna named Knuckles, who possesses super-strength. Rumors have circulated amongst fans that Knuckles would be featured in the sequel film, but now these set photos seem to confirm this. The photos posted to Twitter by Sonic the Hedgehog News & Updates appear to show a member of the crew using scale models to represent Sonic and Knuckles. Even though these characters are brought to life through the magic of visual effects, there is still a need for something physical for the actors to react to while filming. While these may not be an exact representation of what the characters will look like, it's a good indication that Knuckles will be featured in this film.
The first film was also subject to early reactions and speculation. When the first trailer dropped for the 2020 film, fans were quick to criticize the strange and almost too realistic design of Sonic. The backlash was so intense that the studio actually went back and re-did the design, which cost roughly $5 million dollars and delayed the film's release.
The titular hedgehog was redesigned to better resemble his video game counterpart, making him more cartoonish and exaggerated. The new design was well-received, though some fans criticized the questionable precedent set by a studio caving to the demands of outraged fans.
At the moment there is no casting news regarding the voice of Knuckles, but Schwartz, Carrey, James Marsden, and Tika Sumpter are all reprising their roles from the first film, along with comedians Adam Pally and Natasha Rothwell. Jeff Fowler returns as the film's director, with Paramount Pictures in charge of distribution.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is currently scheduled to be released on April 8th, 2022.