Paramount Pictures has just released the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and it puts the spotlight on fan-favorite Sonic rival Shadow the Hedgehog (voiced by Keanu Reeves).
Jeff Fowler is once again returning to the helm for the third movie, and he has quite the history when it comes to Shadow, having worked on the actual Sonic games.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Director on History with Shadow
As Fowler revealed on Twitter, one of his first jobs in the VFX industry was animating Shadow for his first standalone game, Shadow the Hedgehog, which was released in 2005.
Just for context, here’s a look at a trailer for the first Shadow the Hedgehog game:
Interestingly, the film’s first trailer also confirms a lot of what Shadow could do in the game. Besides being a darker, edgier Sonic, Shadow is also seen in the trailer driving a motorcycle and seemingly ‘teleporting’ when he uses his powers.
One big glaring difference is that Shadow uses a gun, and though the movie is kid-friendly, it wouldn’t be surprising if Shadow somehow found himself with an uzi to take down any military threats. Maybe the ratings system wouldn’t be too harsh if he wielded a sci-fi gun.
What is Shadow’s Deal in the Movie?
Based on what’s been showcased in the trailers, it does seem that Shadow is on some kind of revenge quest. With the game having Shadow slowly recalling his memories, maybe the movie could also have him going through the same journey.
Though some would think that Sonic 3 is just repeating the pattern of having Sonic go up against a character with his powers, Shadow seems to be a power level higher, able to easily take on Knuckles.
Not to mention, Team Sonic may be completely desperate to take on Shadow since they have to team up with Robotnik to beat him. The movie even brought in Robotnik’s dad—so now it has twice as many Jim Carreys as the previous Sonic films.
Going back to Shadow, though, his backstory is still pretty much a mystery, but it’s possible that Krysten Ritter’s character, Director Rockwell, could be integral to his story. She doesn’t have a very prominent appearance in the trailers, but it has been hinted that Shadow makes a bond with a girl while he’s in his tank; maybe that girl could be a younger Rockwell?
Is This the Last Sonic Movie?
Surprisingly, not many expected Sonic to reach a third movie, but it could be safe to say that this effectively closes up a trilogy with Sonic and Robotnik. With the lore of the games being pretty expansive, though, there’s more room for sequels in the future.
Shadow may be a huge fan-favorite, but there are still so many characters in the Sonic gang that have yet to make their live-action debuts. How about a Sonic movie that doesn’t take place on Earth for once?
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 speeds into theaters on Dec. 20.