As “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” races into theaters, Paramount is moving fast to expand the SEGA franchise.
A fourth “Sonic” film is currently in development at Paramount and is eyeing a spring 2027 release, an individual with knowledge of the project told IndieWire. Plot details remain under wraps, but a post-credits scene in the latest film suggests that more iconic characters from the video games could soon be entering the cinematic fold.
While no names are currently attached to “Sonic 4,” the series has consistently returned to the same talent pool. All three films have been directed by Jeff Fowler (who also directed the pilot of “Knuckles”), and Josh Miller and Pat Casey have shared scripting duties on all three films alongside a rotating cast of co-writers.
The biggest variable could end up being Jim Carrey’s potential return as Sonic’s adversary Dr. Robotnik. Carrey’s villainous performance has become a fan favorite, but his future in the franchise was up in the air after he announced his retirement from acting after “Sonic 2.” He was lured back for “Sonic 3,” in which he pulled double duty as two different Robotnik characters, and which theoretically leaves the door open for more of his antics.
The actor has recently expressed openness to reprising his titular role from Ron Howard’s 2000 Dr. Seuss adaptation “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” so it appears that he’s more willing to entertain new film projects than he was when “Sonic 2” came out.
Since releasing the first “Sonic the Hedgehog” in 2020, the series has quietly become one of Paramount’s most reliably lucrative properties. The first two films grossed a combined $780 million at the global box office, and spawned the Paramount+ spin-off series “Knuckles,” which bridged the gap between “Sonic 2” and “Sonic 3” with a new story about Idris Elba’s red echidna.
The series features the voice talent of Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails, Elba as Knuckles, and new this time around was Keanu Reeves as Shadow. It also features James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, and Carrey among its human, live-action cast.
Variety first reported the news.
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