Sonic 3 producer Toby Ascher has opened up about the upcoming threequel, confirming what many had already suspected: it’s going to "take a lot" from Sonic Adventure 2.
According to the producer – who is also showrunner on the Knuckles series – Sonic 3 is “probably the most exciting thing that we’ve done in the franchise.”
Ascher also tells GamesRadar+: "It’s going to be this giant, fun, incredible movie that obviously takes a lot from Sonic Adventure 2 and some of the games that I know the core Sonic Team grew up loving."
Sonic Adventure 2, initially released in 2001 on the Sega Dreamcast, has become a firm fan favorite – and also featured the debut of Shadow the Hedgehog.
Since then, the character – once dubbed the Ultimate Lifeform – has only snowballed in popularity. If recent reports are to be believed, Shadow will be played in Sonic 3 by Keanu Reeves.
That’s seemingly not the only element Sonic 3 is going to take from Sonic Adventure 2. The logo alone looks to be inspired by the game, while it’s already been confirmed that a track from Sonic Adventure 2 – Crush 40’s ‘Live and Learn’ – will be in the Sonic threequel.
Knuckles actor Idris Elba addressed Shadow’s reported casting in a separate interview with us, saying that he’s only "heard the rumors" but knows "nothing" of his fellow Cyberpunk 2077 castmate’s arrival into the Sonic-verse.
On Sonic 3, Elba adds: "Everything’s in increments, right? So if that [hand in the middle] was Sonic 1, that [hand higher up] is Sonic 2 then Sonic 3 [puts hand even higher]. Ding ding ding ding."
Knuckles is premiering on Paramount Plus on April 26 in the US and April 27 in the UK.
For more, check out the new TV shows that are racing to your screens soon.
