Sonic 3 movie release date 2023

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has landed an official release date, but we've got a bit of a wait on our hands for the return of the speedy blue hedgehog.

In early August 2022, Paramount confirmed that the threequel would be coming to cinemas in December 2024, marking a slightly longer wait than fans are used to for the big-screen adventures of Sonic.

Before Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was even released in cinemas, Paramount and Sega confirmed a threequel was on the way, as well as a spin-off series focused on Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) who made his debut in the sequel.

We'd imagine that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 would bring back the same creative team – director Jeff Fowler and writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller – that made the first two movies a success, but that hasn't been confirmed yet.

So what can we expect from Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and how does the sequel set it up? Here's everything you need to know. (Warning: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 spoilers are ahead.)

Paramount

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 release date: When can we expect Sonic the Hedgehog 3?

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be speeding into cinemas on December 20, 2024, assuming there aren't any delays.

It's a change from the previous two movies which were released in the earlier part of the year (February 2020 and April 2022, respectively). The box-office success of those movies shows that a Christmas release makes total sense.

There's been no announcement on when production will start on the threequel, but we imagine it'll have to start in 2023 at the very latest as like the other two movies, there will be a significant amount of time spent on the visual effects.

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Watch Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on Prime Video

Even though we have the release date for the third movie, we still don't know when the spin-off TV show about Knuckles will arrive.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 cast: Who's coming back for Sonic the Hedgehog 3?

We haven't had any official confirmations of returning cast for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 yet, but that doesn't mean we can't make some educated guesses.

Ben Schwartz will, of course, be back as Sonic and he'll likely be joined again by Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Tails and Idris Elba as Knuckles.

Jim Carrey revealed his imminent retirement from his long acting career in the wake of Sonic 2's release. He said he is "fairly serious" about taking a break from the industry, and if that's the case, we might not see Robotnik in the threequel.

Sonic producers Toby Ascher and Neal H Moritz have said they "wouldn't even try" to recast the role. "Jim Carrey is always a member of the Sonic family and he'll always have a place in these movies and TV shows as long as he'd like to be around," Ascher explained.

"We love Jim and he's so special, and what he does with Robotnik is so incredible. We would love him as long as he'd like to be there with us."

Paramount

In terms of the other human characters, expect to see James Marsden and Tika Sumpter back as Sonic's 'parents' Tom and Maddie Wachowski, Lee Majdoub as Robotnik's long-suffering employee Agent Stone and Adam Pally as Green Hills deputy sheriff Wade Whipple.

We could see Tom Butler back as Commander Walters since GUN might play a bigger part in the third movie with Shadow's arrival, while Natasha Rothwell could return as Maddie's older sister Rachel and Shemar Moore as her fiancé Randall.

It's unclear who will be voicing Shadow the Hedgehog in the third movie after Shadow's arrival was teased in the credit scene. Kirk Thornton currently voices the character in the series, but we'd expect the role to be recast for Shadow's big-screen debut.

Co-writer Pat Casey revealed Shadow is "driven by anger and revenge" and that Sonic's attempts to befriend Shadow won't go as smoothly as they did with Knuckles.

"Sonic's never had to deal with someone as emotionally damaged like Shadow...when he sees Shadow, he’s like, 'Well, I'll just teach him about the power of friendship, like with Knuckles!' But that's not going to work on Shadow," he told the Green Hill Zone podcast.

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Aside from Shadow, could we see more Sonic video game characters make their way to the big screen?

Shadow's origin story in the games involves the likes of Dr Robotnik's grandfather Gerald Robotnik and his cousin Maria Robotnik. However, there is every chance that the story has been adjusted for the movies.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 plot: What is Sonic the Hedgehog 3 about?

No plot details have yet been confirmed for the third movie, but it'll definitely pick up from the credit scene tease.

This scene returned to the scene of the climax as GUN searched for Robotnik, but no sign could be found. Agent Stone (Lee Majdoub) is seen sneaking around though, so there's no doubt he's helped his boss escape.

And we then got our first glimpse of Shadow the Hedgehog, who will surely be around to cause trouble for Sonic in the threequel. Fowler wouldn't go into more details but did share his excitement with ComicBook.com.

"I'm hesitant to go into too much detail, only because it's obviously still very early. I will say that we are teasing a character that I'm incredibly excited about. It's very personal to me as a fan," he noted.

As for what the cast wants to see, O'Shaughnessey told Digital Spy that, first and foremost, she hoped Tails would be back: "I hope we get to see more and more of him, and see where his gadgets can take everybody."

Paramount

Carrey added: "I think [Robotnik] should get into nanotechnology. I'd like his machines to be released in an aerosol that can be ingested in the human body and turn people into him." Here's hoping Carrey decides to stick around to make it happen!

Schwartz isn't giving any specific plot details away, but he did tease what we can expect from it to The Playlist: "For [the sequel], we blew it out so much, and for 3, it's going to be bananas, it's going to be crazy! I can't wait."

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer: Any Sonic the Hedgehog 3 footage yet?

Nothing as of yet as filming hasn't started on Sonic the Hedgehog 3 as of September 2022.

The first trailer for the sequel was released in December 2021, four months ahead of its release, so we'll likely be waiting a while.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be released in cinemas on December 20, 2024.

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