Keanu Reeves has joined Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, voicing the popular antihero Shadow the Hedgehog in the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Multiple sources, including The Hollywood Reporter, have confirmed Reeves’ role as Shadow, a character who first appeared in the 2001 video game Sonic Adventure 2.
This casting news follows Paramount’s recent CinemaCon presentation, where they screened footage from Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The footage revealed that Dr. Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey, would be responsible for creating Shadow the Hedgehog. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 marks another highly anticipated project for Reeves, adding to his upcoming appearances in the John Wick spinoff Ballerina and the comedies Good Fortune and Outcome.
Keanu Reeves Cast as Shadow
In the franchise, Reeves joins returning voice actors Ben Schwartz as Sonic the Hedgehog, Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Miles “Tails” Prower, and Idris Elba as Knuckles the Echidna. The live-action cast includes Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik, James Marsden as Tom Wachowski, Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski, Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone, and Tom Butler as Commander Walters. Additionally, Krysten Ritter, Sofia Pernas, Cristo Fernández, James Wolk, and Jorma Taccone have been cast in undisclosed roles.
The Sonic franchise aims to expand significantly, drawing inspiration from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Executive producer Toby Ascher has stated that the movie side of the franchise will focus on “Avengers-level events,” while the television side will explore supporting characters in more depth. This strategy aims to grow the Sonic universe into a major cinematic franchise.
Keanu Reeves Cast as Shadow
Ahead of Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s release, Paramount+ will debut the spinoff series Knuckles. This series, set to bridge the gap between Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and 3, features Idris Elba reprising his role as Knuckles. The show will follow Knuckles on a journey of self-discovery as he trains Wade, played by Adam Pally, in the ways of the Echidna warrior. The series will include cameos from Sonic, Tails, and Maddie, with Ben Schwartz, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, and Tika Sumpter returning to voice their respective characters. All six episodes of Knuckles will be available on Paramount+ starting April 26.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is set to hit theaters on December 20, 2024, continuing the excitement and expansion of the Sonic franchise.
