Despite some early hiccups,Sonic the Hedgehogmovie franchise has proven to be one of the better video game adaptations ever put to screen. The latest sequel,Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which introduced the fan-favorite Shadow, played by Keanu Reeves, isalready breaking recordsat the box office and has been universally praised for its improved visuals and story. The films are known for featuring characters Sonic fans are well-aware of, andSonic the Hedgehog 2was no different, featuring Knuckles and a post-credits teaseof Shadow. However, the sequel nearly included another “Big” cameo.
IGNinterviewedSonic the Hedgehogwriters Pat Casey and Josh Miller, where they were asked the burning question fans have wondered since the first film. Well, not quite. The publication inquired the screenwriters aboutBig the Cat, the large purple feline creature that appears sporadically throughout the Sonic media. Not necessarily a fan-favorite, Big the Cat was considered by Casey and Miller to appear when the main crew travel to Siberia to find a temple that has a compass needed to find the Master Emerald (macguffins). Casey’s description of the cameo is less flattering than the idea may initially sound:
“In one draft of Sonic 2, we actually, when they’re going through the snowy mountains to the cave, we had a bit, because Sonic 2 was sort of an Indiana Jones. Indiana Jones, it’s a trope that at some point a skeleton pops out at you and scares you. So we were going to do that, but with a skeleton of a, I would say,aBig the Cat, not necessarily-”
Miller then interjected that the skeleton was “Not necessarilytheBig the Cat,” and Casey confirmed that they"ended up cutting it" because “It didn’t make any sense.” For those unfamiliar, Big the Cat is an aptly large anthropomorphic cat who lives in the Mystic Ruins,where Knuckle’s ancestors come from. Now, it seems the cut cameo would not have been Big the Cat exactly, but instead someone else of the same species. As a kids' movie that caters to young Sonic fans, It’s pretty clear why this would not have worked inSonic the Hedgehog 2. Still, it shows that the writers behind the films are always looking for ways to include characters from the franchise, includingRouge the Bat, who has yet to appear in live-action.
Future ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Movies Will Make Fans Very Happy
AsSonic the Hedgehog 3continues to achieve franchise-best numbers, the future of the movie series becomes clearer.Sonic the Hedgehog 4has already been announced, and it hasa tentative release date. It’s unclear if everyone, including Jim Carrey, will return, but the post-credits scenes already gave fans a few ideas about what the sequel could be about. Meanwhile, Idris Elba has already started a campaign for a"Shadow and Knuckles" spinoffstarring himself and Keanu Reeves. Nothing has been confirmed on that front, butthe writing is on the wall for both to return in some capacity, inSonic the Hedgehog 4or otherwise.
‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ Ending, Explained: A Surprisingly Emotional Journey
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has some of the series' best moments. The ending has emotional and exciting twists with characters like Shadow.
Although the previous installments did well at the box office and were received positively by general audiences,Sonic the Hedgehog 3has been a game-changer. It not only boasts a franchise-high 87% Certified FreshRotten Tomatoesscore, but it made nearly double whatMufasa: The Lion Kingdid during its opening weekend with$62 million.If the film series continues to up the ante, it’s hard to put a cap on the ceiling of the video game adaptation.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the sequel to the 2022 comedy-adventure movie that featured the Blue Blur and his companions on an adventure to stop Dr. Robotnik from taking over the world. The new film sees the new antagonist Shadow the Hedgehog, arriving to cause trouble for the newly formed trio of heroes, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, as they adjust to their earthly lives.
