The highly anticipated franchise film,Sonic the Hedgehog 3,recently revealed its runtime, and many are concerned that there won’t be enough time to properly delve into the movie’s most exciting cast addition. Set to be released on June 15, 2025,Sonic the Hedgehog 3will see the returnof the iconic blue hedgehog, alongside his friends Tails and Knuckles, as they take on a mysterious new enemy named Shadow. Although the movie has plenty of exciting elements to offer audiences,the movie’s 109-minute runtime feels a bit short for what viewers are hoping to see.
One of the biggest changes coming toSonic the Hedgehog 3is the appearance of Shadow. Like Tails and Knuckles before him,Shadow is an integral character in theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise, and arguably, audiences have been waiting to see him since the very first movie’s release in 2020. In this way,casting Shadow as the villain ofSonic the Hedgehog 3made viewers believe that he would play a big role in the upcoming movie. However, with only an hour and 40 minutes to spare amidst a vast ensemble cast, Shadow may lose the screentime audiences desperately want.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3’s Crowded Ensemble Makes The Shorter Runtime Risky
How Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Managed Its Time
The most significant concern that comes withSonic the Hedgehog 3’sruntimeis that the movie won’t be able to properly develop all of its characters. Throughout theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise,every movie has introduced more and more characters from Sonic’s universe, which means that the third movie has the most characters yet.From the Wachowskis and Dr. Robotnik to Sonic and his friends, there are numerous people that the film must move around, and with so little time, many of these characters may end up feeling flat and somewhat useless.
Alyla Browne
Maria
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first instance of time being a problem for theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise.2022’sSonic the Hedgehog 2had a 122-minute runtime and fewer characters, but still struggledto successfully establishSonic the Hedgehog’scast. Tails and Knuckles were introduced, but didn’t always feel as dynamic as Sonic or other characters. Ultimately,Sonic the Hedgehog 3could easily run into the same problem. With the addition of Shadow and Grandpa Robotnik, the movie may struggle to give its characters enough screen time.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3’s Runtime Could Limit Shadow’s Screentime
Why Shadow Needs To Play A Big Role
The most disappointing outcome ofSonic the Hedgehog 3’sruntime would be if Shadow had limited screentime. Among Sonic’s many iconic characters,Shadow is a particularly important figure that deserves a big chunk of screentime. Audiences not only need to understand him as a villain, but also need to see how he interacts with Sonic. In this way, otherSonic the Hedgehogcharacters may need to be put on the backburner in order for Shadow to get the spotlight he needs.
Why Shadow The Hedgehog Is So Much More Powerful Than Team Sonic In Sonic 3
Shadow’s powers in the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer suggest he’s already gained a powerful abilitiy from the games that gives him an edge over Sonic.
Shadow needs to be handled well inSonic the Hedgehog 3because he could affect the future of the franchise. While characters like Tails and Knuckles are fun, and offer opportunities for spinoffs,Shadow is pivotal to Sonic’s character development. In many ways,Shadow and Sonic are two sides of the same coin. Both characters can learn from each other, which means Shadow is necessary for Sonic to grow. Therefore,Sonic the Hedgehog 3has big shoes to fill, and hopefully, it manages to succeed.
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.
