Sonic the Hedgehog movie franchise kicked off in 2020 with Ben Schwartz voicing the CG-animated character in an adaptation of the popular video game franchise of the same name. The movie's success spawned a live-action multimedia franchise that now includes two feature-length sequels and the Paramount+ spinoff series Knuckles. The cast of the franchise also includes James Marsden as Sonic's companion Tom, Jim Carrey as the villainous Dr. Robotnik, Colleen O'Shaughnessey as the voice of Tails, Idris Elba as the voice of Knuckles, and Keanu Reeves as the voice of Shadow.
Per Variety, Paramount Pictures has confirmed the development of the sequel Sonic the Hedgehog 4. They have slated the movie for a spring 2027 release date. This news comes one day before the official wide release premiere of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. At the time of writing, no further details are known about the cast, crew, or storyline of the fourth feature-length installment in the video game movie franchise.
What This Means For Sonic The Hedgehog
The Franchise Is Thriving
The fact that the next movie has been confirmed ahead of the official Sonic the Hedgehog 3 release showcases the extreme confidence that producers have in the ongoing movie franchise. This makes sense considering the fact that the new movie is projected to provide strong competition for the prequel Mufasa: The Lion King in its opening weekend with a solid debut of roughly $60 million. It has also earned the best Rotten Tomatoes score of the franchise. Below, see a breakdown of the franchise's critical and commercial reception:
Title |
RT Critic Score |
RT Audience Score |
Budget |
Box Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) |
64% |
93% |
~$90 million |
$319.7 million |
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) |
69% |
96% |
~$110 million |
$405.4 million |
Knuckles (2024) |
75% |
67% |
N/A |
N/A |
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) |
86% |
TBD |
$122 million |
TBD |
This confidence is further underscored by the fact that the release window for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 puts it in competition with some major franchise blockbusters. Although the full schedule for Spring 2027 has not yet been announced, the Monsterverse sequel Godzilla and Kong is set to premiere in March, followed by the debut of the hotly anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe crossover Avengers: Secret Wars in May. Both movies have the potential to be record-breaking successes, so putting Sonic in theaters during that time belies its strong commercial prospects.
Our Take On The Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Announcement
The Main Cast Will Probably Reprise Their Roles
Because Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has been confirmed so quickly on the heels of the 2024 installment, it seems highly likely that many of the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 cast will return in the movie. While the live-action stars (a roster that also includes Tika Sumpter, Adam Pally, and Natasha Rothwell) may choose to step back after a certain point, voice performance requires much less of a time commitment, so it seems highly likely that Schwartz, Elba, Reeves, and O'Shaughnessey will reprise their roles in the fourth movie and beyond.
Source: Variety
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is the fourth installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog film series, with further plot details to be announced ahead of a release planned for Spring 2027.
- Main Genre
- Adventure
