Summary
There’s a lot of pressure forSonic the Hedgehog 3to nail Shadow’s character, butParamount’s previous movies already prove that they’ll do the villain justice. Paramount’sSonic the Hedgehogcinematic universehas seen massive success since the first movie’s debut, with both films becoming the highest-grossing video game movie in North America at the time of their release. And althoughThe Super Mario Bros.Moviehas taken that title since, theSonicmovies remain solid adaptations of the beloved video games they’re based on.
Even with prior films inspiring confidence ahead ofSonic the Hedgehog 3’s release,longtime fans might be worried about how the upcoming sequel will handle Shadow’s character.Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s post-credits sceneteases Shadow as the next movie’s villain, and this development is both exciting and worrisome. Shadow is a fan-favoriteSonic the Hedgehogcharacter, so nailing his characterization is crucial to the third movie’s success.Keanu Reeves' Shadow castingis a step in the right direction, and previousSonicmovies also prove that the franchise can handle this challenge.
8 Sonic The Hedgehog Villains We Want To See In The Sonic Cinematic Universe
The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has so many incredible villains across comics, games, and extended media who need to appear in later installments.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2’s Knuckles Proves Shadow Is In Good Hands
Knuckles Is Another Fan-Favorite Character & The Movies Did Him Justice
Sonic the Hedgehog 3isn’t the only movie in the franchise to feature a beloved video game character.Sonic the Hedgehog 2brings in Knuckles as one of its antagonists, andgetting the Echidna right comes with nearly as much pressure as nailing Shadow’s character. Fortunately, Paramount’sSonic the Hedgehogfranchise is living up to the challenge when it comes to Knuckles. Idris Elba’s casting is a spark of brilliance that makes this iteration of the character great, and Knuckles' story inSonic the Hedgehog 2is also handled incredibly well.
IfSonic the Hedgehog 3handles Shadow with as much care as Knuckles, the sequel is sure to impress viewers with its newest addition.
IfSonic the Hedgehog 3handles Shadow with as much care as Knuckles, the sequel is sure to impress viewers with its newest addition.The franchise is already mirroring its approach to Knucklesby casting a well-known and seasoned actor to voice Shadow. With any luck, the next movie will also give Shadow a backstory, arc, and redemption worthy of theSonicgames. However, there is one challenge the upcoming film faces thatSonic the Hedgehog 2didn’t need to worry about: it must find a way to set its Shadow story apart from Knuckles' earlier narrative.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Must Be Careful Not To Repeat Its Knuckles Story With Shadow
It Seems Inevitable Their Character Arcs Will Be Similar
Shadow isn’t fully a villain in theSonic the Hedgehoggames, which meanshe likely won’t remain the antagonist in Paramount’s cinematic universe. It seems inevitable that Shadow’s arc will repeat Knuckles' in some ways.Sonic the Hedgehog 3will introduce him as a villain, perhaps even having him work with Dr. Robotnik for a time. However, after his clash with Sonic, he’ll likely reveal that he isn’t all that bad — precisely like Knuckles does inSonic the Hedgehog 2.
This series of events would work for the character, butit would feel somewhat repetitive afterSonic the Hedgehog 2.Needless to say,Sonic the Hedgehog 3will need to find some way to keep Shadow’s arc fresh, even if it does wind up mirroring Knuckles'. Perhaps it can drag his storyline out longer or give him a different relationship with Sonic after their initial conflict. However it handles Shadow, I’m confident thatSonic the Hedgehog 3will satisfy viewers with his story. After all, the franchise has given us no reason to think otherwise.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Cast
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 reunites Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails as they face a formidable new adversary, Shadow. With Shadow’s unprecedented powers posing a significant threat, Team Sonic seeks an unexpected alliance to thwart his plans and safeguard the planet.
