Sonic the Hedgehog 3: Release date, cast and news for threequel
Ben Schwartz will return to voice the blue speedster for a third time in late 2024.
A new TV series focusing on Sonic the Hedgehog's nemesis-turned-friend Knuckles is landing on streaming service Paramount Plus – with Idris Elba returning to voice the echidna after first taking on the role in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
The series takes place between the events of the second film and the upcoming third big-screen instalment, and will follow the titular character as he trains deputy sheriff Wade Whipple (Adam Pally) "in the ways of the echidna warrior".
But with the new spin-off now upon us, how long do fans have to wait before the Sonic himself is back for his next big-screen adventure? And will any more popular characters from the video game series be joining the fun this time around?
Read on for everything we know so far about Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 release date
It's been confirmed that Sonic the Hedgehog will be released just in time for Christmas – on Friday 20th December 2024.
That's roughly two-and-a-half years after the second film in the franchise was released in April 2022.
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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 cast
Most of the actors who have starred in the last two Sonic films are back for this one – including Ben Schwartz as the voice of the beloved hedgehog, Idris Elba as Knuckles and video game star Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Tails.
And there is one big name addition to the voice cast – with The Matrix and John Wick star Keanu Reeves joining as antagonist Shadow the Hedgehog, who made a brief non-speaking appearance in the post-credits scene of the previous film.
As for human characters, Jim Carrey is back as Sonic's arch-nemesis Dr Robotnik, while James Marsden and Tika Sumpter reprise their roles as his adoptive parents Tom and Maddie Wachowski, and Lee Majdoub and Tom Butler are also back.
Meanwhile there are new - as yet undisclosed – roles for Krysten Ritter (Breaking Bad), Sofia Pernas (The Brave), Cristo Fernández (Ted Lasso), James Wolk (Watchmen) and Jorma Taccone (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.)
What is the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 plot?
No specific plot details have been officially unveiled at this stage, but it looks like the film will see Sonic and his allies go up against Shadow – a legendary character from the video games who was created in a secret government programme.
Meanwhile, it seems likely that we'll get to see Sonic go "Super Sonic" in this film, after that concept from the games was introduced at the end of the previous instalment, while it's unclear whether any of the events of the aforementioned Knuckles TV spin-off will feed into the film.
When any more concrete details of the film's plot filter through, we'll update this page.
Is there a Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer?
Although some footage from the threequel was shown to attendees at CinemaCon in April 2024, a trailer for the film has not yet been officially released to the public.
As soon as one becomes available, we'll post it right here!
Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.
