The Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie release date is slowly approaching and fans are eagerly searching for information on its story and how Shadow and Amy Rose might factor in.
Sega and Paramount Pictures breathed new life into the Sonic franchise with two successful live-action films and played a key role in the slew of video game-based TV shows and film adaptations. The first movie, released in January 2020, grossed approximately $320 million worldwide while its sequel pulled in over $400 million. They were successful enough that they have even spawned a Knuckles spin-off series starring Idris Elba, which is set to premiere on Paramount+ in 2024.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was also definitively teased in the second film, with fans getting a brief glimpse at Shadow. Information is swirling about what the future holds for the films, so it’s worth going over what the real facts are and what has been officially confirmed by the studio and actors.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie release date confirmed
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will premiere on December 20, 2024.
The production was scheduled to begin filming in August, which was pushed back to September amid the SAG-AFTRA strike. Filming reportedly began without the presence of the actors, with fans shooting videos and photos of the proceedings. The actor-free filming was likely in preparation for action sequences using the CGI characters. The SAG-AFTRA strike was concluded on November 8, 2023.
The span between the start of filming and the release date aligns with the previous films’ production plans, so the third film is expected to finish production without any problems.
Ben Schwartz, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, and Idris Elba have been confirmed to reprise their roles as the voices of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. James Marsden, who portrays Sonic’s human companion Tom Wachowski, is expected to return. Shadow the Hedgehog is set to appear in the film, but it’s unclear who will play him.
It is unknown if Jim Carrey will return as Dr. Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Carrey openly discussed retirement while doing media events for Sonic the Hedgehog 2, but stated that he was open to coming back for the right project.
Shadow will be in Sonic 3, but will Amy Rose appear?
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is set to incorporate elements of Sonic Adventure 2, including Shadow the Hedgehog being introduced as a character. As for Amy Rose, there’s no news on whether she will be a part of the film.
The post-credits scene of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 shows Shadow’s emergence from a glass tank. Sonic writers Patrick Casey and Josh Miller have also acknowledged Sonic Adventure 2 as a source of inspiration for the upcoming film.
In Sonic Adventure 2, Dr. Eggman resurrects Shadow to help him take over the world, with Shadow initially opposing Sonic before eventually teaming up with him. Shadow’s backstory was later explored in his own spin-off game.
Amy Rose has not been confirmed to be a part of the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 film, however. Though an IMDb plot synopsis hinted at a pink hedgehog appearing, this was later removed and was reportedly written by a fan. Though Amy may appear in the film, it hasn’t been officially confirmed by the studios or writers yet.