No one in their wildest dreams imagined that Sega and Paramount’s first-ever collaboration, Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), would not only surpass expectations but also respect the opinions of the video game’s fanbase. The original design for Sonic was widely criticised and faced immediate backlash, forcing director Jeff Fowler and his team to go back to the drawing board and make much-needed modifications to the protagonist’s design. This decision strengthened fans’ trust in the movie, which went on to become the highest-grossing film of 2020. Then came the even better 2022 sequel. Now, with the release of the best installment in the trilogy, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, fans are asking: What’s next for the newly announced fourth entry?
In an emotional interview with ScreenRant, the franchise’s writer, Pat Casey, shared his thoughts on the Sonic movie series and how it became a global phenomenon. He revealed that expectations for the first film were very low, with some even considering it “a bit of a laughing stock.” However, the team overcame all odds to deliver three amazing and entertaining Sonic films.
“It’s great to be part of a successful franchise that we’ve had two hit movies. Part 3 will hopefully be a hit, and we just hope that the franchise continues to grow and continues to expand the audience. It’s been the same team on all these films, it’s almost like a family thing, and it’s just so exciting to see it grow. When the first movie was announced, no one gave us a chance, we were a bit of a laughing stock, even. So, it’s really gratifying to have gotten the franchise to this point, really.”
Sonic 3 has already grossed over $210 million and is expected to earn even more this month following its full-fledged global theatrical release. Surpassing Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King in terms of domestic box office opening, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has proven that fans value good movies over big production studios.
The confirmation of Sonic 4 came sooner than expected, with a release window projected for 2027. This demonstrates Paramount’s confidence in the franchise—and rightly so! The film series not only honors the source material with its unique blend of humor and emotional depth but also sets a high standard for other studios on how video game adaptations should be approached. Considering the wealth of entries in the original video game series, we can expect more Sonic movies in the future. Stay tuned for further updates!