Having steered his film career in a decidedly darker direction, actor Jim Carrey looks to be making a return to his lighthearted, comedic roots, which began in the 90s with films like Ace Ventura, Dumb and Dumber, and Liar Liar. New reports from Deadline say Carrey is in the final stages of accepting the role as Dr. Robotnik in Paramount's upcoming movie based on the Sonic the Hedgehog games.

The Sonic the Hedgehog movie will also star James Marsden and Tika Sumpter, although their exact roles have yet to be confirmed. Typically, it would be safe to say the star would be portraying the titular character, however in this case it's unclear because Sonic is, after all, a blue hedgehog and will presumably be CGI.

Other credits include Jeff Fowler as director, who is recognized for his animation work on 2009's Where the Wild Things Are. Not much has been revealed about the script, except that it involves Sonic and his mission to foil Robotnik's plan for world domination, which shouldn't come as a shock to anyone familiar with the game series.

Doctor Robotnik from Sonic the Hedgehog

Carrey has been raising eyebrows as of late, whether by way of quirky award show antics, his notably bleak acting choices, or politically-charged artwork. It should be refreshing, and admittedly jarring, to see the funnyman step into Dr. Robotnik's shoes, hopefully complete with plate armor, a giant mustache, and a bald cap.

Sonic, on the other hand, hasn't enjoyed the most robust video game career in recent years. The most recent standalone Sonic installment, part of the Sonic Boom spin-off series, saw lukewarm reception and comparable sales figures. The prior few installments fared even worse. With a big name like Jim Carrey stepping on in a lead role, there's hope that his star power will redirect public attention toward the iconic gaming franchise, and potentially lead to a new Sonic platformer. What has been confirmed is that a Sonic racing game is on its way, highlighted by a trailer at E3 2018.

Sonic the Hedgehog is currently set for release on November 15, 2019.

Source: Deadline