This article contains spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog 2.Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has been a resounding success, faring well in both box office performance and fan reception. And unsurprisingly, a third film in the series is already in the works.
Details on the next Sonic movie may be sparse right now, but it’s clear from the second film’s post-credits scene that the fan-favorite character Shadow the Hedgehog will be making an appearance. What sort of role Sonic’s iconic rival will be playing in the next movie is unclear for now, but it’s doubtful that he’ll be the only popular character from the games to be making his big-screen debut. Here are just a few members of Sonic’s colorful cast of characters who could very well be joining Shadow in the next movie.
Amy Rose
After Shadow, the next most obvious character to introduce in the third Sonic film is of course Amy Rose. The most prominent female character in the series, Amy is a pink-quilled hedgehog who made her first appearance in 1993’s Sonic the Hedgehog CD for the Sega CD, making her predate Knuckles’ 1994 debut in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. At first, Amy was little more than a damsel in distress who was defined by her unrequited crush on Sonic. However, later games would give her a bit more depth.
1998’s Sonic Adventure promoted Amy to a playable character, making her a powerful fighter who pummels enemies with her massive Piko Piko Hammer. Since then, Amy has grown into a true hero in her own right, with her crush on Sonic taking a backseat to her compassionate and determined personality. The current comic series by writer Ian Flynn has even shown her develop into a capable leader. Her feelings for Sonic have never truly gone away, but it’s clear by now that Amy is her own hedgehog, and she’d be a welcome addition to the cast of the movies.
Metal Sonic
One of the most popular villains in the Sonic series is Metal Sonic, a robotic doppelganger of the Blue Blur created by Doctor Eggman. Debuting alongside Amy Rose in Sonic CD, Metal Sonic has gone on to be one of the most commonly recurring antagonists of the series. Typically, Metal Sonic is portrayed as nothing but a silent, emotionless machine, serving as little more than an extension of Doctor Eggman’s will.
However, 2003’s Sonic Heroes broke away from this trend, elevating Metal Sonic to the role of main antagonist as he broke away from Eggman’s control and enacted his own attempt at world domination. But whether he’s an evil mastermind in his own right or acting as Eggman’s loyal right-hand robot, Metal Sonic is one or the most enduring bad guys of the Sonic franchise, and it’d be a shame for him to never go up against the Blue Blur on the big screen.
Chaos
With Knuckles’ addition to the film series, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has naturally introduced the mythos surrounding the Echidnas, the Chaos Emeralds, and the Master Emerald. One character intrinsically linked with this lore is Chaos, the final boss of Sonic Adventure. Once revered as a god of destruction, Chaos is the protector of the beings known as the Chao, as well as the guardian of the Chaos Emeralds. Though kind and benevolent by nature, Chaos turned violent and vengeful when the ancient Echidnas led by Pachacamac attempted to claim the Chaos Emeralds as their own. As Chaos’ rage threatened to doom the entire world, it was sealed within the Master Emerald by Pachacamac’s daughter Tikal.
However, Chaos was released from the Master Emerald by Doctor Eggman thousands of years later, and threatened to destroy the world once more before being defeated by Sonic. Sonic Adventure marked a turning point in the series where the games gained a new focus on more complex stories, and the tale of Chaos reflects this. While Chaos has little to do with Shadow in the games, introducing it would be an excellent way to build upon the lore around the Chaos Emeralds.
Rouge the Bat
One of Shadow’s closest allies in the games is the notorious jewel thief Rouge the Bat, who debuted alongside him in 2001’s Sonic Adventure 2. Rouge was initially introduced as a rival to Knuckles, competing with him for the fragments of the shattered Master Emerald. But while she typically works alone, Rouge seems to have a soft spot for Shadow, always happy to lend him help whenever he needs it. In fact, Rouge is probably the closest thing Shadow has to a best friend, so if he’s going to be the focus of the next movie, she may not be far behind — assuming she doesn’t appear in Knuckles’ spin-off series first, that is.
E-123 Omega
Speaking of Shadow’s friends, Rouge isn’t the only comrade in arms he has. E-123 Omega was introduced in Sonic Heroes as Shadow and Rouge’s teammate in Team Dark, and has frequently shown up alongside them since then. Originally created by Doctor Eggman, Omega has sworn vengeance against his creator for sealing him away for so long. Despite seeming to be a bloodthirsty killer robot on the surface, Omega is nevertheless a staunch ally to Shadow and Rouge, and is welcome as a member of Sonic’s extended friend group. While he’s not exactly one of the more important Sonic characters, seeing Omega appear on the big screen would nevertheless be a treat to any fans who want to see Team Dark assembled on film.