Sonic the Hedgehog 4is a go. The live-actionSonic the Hedgehogmovie franchisekicked off in 2020 with Ben Schwartz voicing the CG-animated character in an adaptation of the popular video game franchise of the same name. The movie’s success spawned a live-action multimedia franchise that now includes two feature-length sequels and the Paramount+ spinoff seriesKnuckles. The cast of the franchise also includes James Marsden as Sonic’s companion Tom, Jim Carrey as the villainous Dr. Robotnik, Colleen O’Shaughnessey as the voice of Tails, Idris Elba as the voice of Knuckles, and Keanu Reeves as the voice of Shadow.
PerVariety, Paramount Pictures has confirmed the development of the upcoming sequelSonic the Hedgehog 4. They have slated the movie fora spring 2027 release date. This news comes one day before the official wide release premiere ofSonic the Hedgehog 3. At the time of writing, no further details are known about the cast, crew, or storyline of the fourth feature-length installment in the video game movie franchise.
What This Means For Sonic The Hedgehog
The Franchise Is Thriving
The fact that the next movie has been confirmed ahead of the officialSonic the Hedgehog 3releaseshowcasesthe extreme confidence that producers have in the ongoing movie franchise. This makes sense considering the fact that the new movie is projected to provide strong competition for the prequelMufasa: The Lion Kingin its opening weekend with a solid debut of roughly $60 million. It has also earned the best Rotten Tomatoes score of the franchise. Below, see a breakdown of the franchise’s critical and commercial reception:
64%
93%
~$90 million
$319.7 million
Sonic the Hedgehog 2(2022)
69%
96%
~$110 million
$405.4 million
75%
67%
Sonic the Hedgehog 3(2024)
86%
$122 million
TBD
This confidence is further underscored by the fact that the release window forSonic the Hedgehog 4puts it in competition with some major franchise blockbusters. Although the full schedule for Spring 2027 has not yet been announced, the Monsterverse sequelGodzilla and Kongis set to premiere in March, followed by the debut of the hotly anticipatedMarvel Cinematic Universe crossoverAvengers: Secret Warsin May. Both movies have the potential to be record-breaking successes, so puttingSonicin theaters during that time belies its strong commercial prospects.
Our Take On The Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Announcement
The Main Cast Will Probably Reprise Their Roles
BecauseSonic the Hedgehog 4has been confirmed so quickly on the heels of the 2024 installment, it seems highly likely that many members of theSonic the Hedgehog 3castwill return in the upcoming movie. While the live-action stars (a roster that also includes Tika Sumpter, Adam Pally, and Natasha Rothwell) may choose to step back after a certain point, voice performance requires much less of a time commitment, so it seemshighly likely that Schwartz, Elba, Reeves, and O’Shaughnessey will reprise their roles in the fourth movieand beyond.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Cast
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is the fourth installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog film series, with further plot details to be announced ahead of a release planned for Spring 2027.
