Shared Cinematic Universes have taken off over the last decade thanks to the success of the MCU, and now Paramount Pictures and Sonic the Hedgehog want to enter the game. Speaking with EuroGamer, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 producers Toby Ascher, Neal H. Moritz, and Sega CEO Haruki Satomi revealed that the upcoming sequel is the first step towards a Sonic Shared Universe. Ascher began by saying…
Moritz then added that the addition of the likes of Tails and Knuckles to proceedings is just the beginning, with plans in place to expand the world of Sonic much, much further.
“We’re creating a Sonic cinematic universe, so we knew we were going to add characters, like Tails and Knuckles; new to the films but beloved by gamers all over the world.”
Sega CEO Haruki Satomi then praised the ongoing relationship with Paramount Pictures and expressed his excitement over continuing the franchise and embarking on a shared universe.
“[Sonic 1] was a great experience for us as filmmakers, and as movie lovers. Now, we’re even more excited to expand that world, adding new characters, bigger worlds, a new, incredible journey, and more action and adventure. There are so many places we can go with Sonic.”
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 launching a shared universe should not come as too much of a surprise, with this approach to franchise filmmaking now proven to be hugely successful. With the MCU consistently making big bucks thanks to every single installment in the franchise essentially being a puzzle piece that needs to be seen to fully understand the whole picture, it makes sense that the likes of Paramount and Sega want a slice of the billion-dollar pie.
“We’ve got a remarkable partnership with Paramount and we are excited to continue expanding the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise with them.”
With Sonic the Hedgehog 2 introducing new characters and worlds, and with a third movie and a Knuckles spin-off series already confirmed, the studio is clearly committed to getting everything out of the brand that they can. Will a Sonic the Hedgehog Shared Universe really see such results, however? Only time will tell.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is Scheduled for Release Next Month
Paramount Pictures Studios
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 picks up closely after the events of the first outing, with Sonic determined to make his mark as a hero and deciding to stay in Green Hills while Tom and Maddie go to Hawaii for her sister Rachel’s wedding. When Doctor Eggman returns from the Mushroom Planet in search of the Master Emerald to conquer the world and exact revenge against Sonic with the help of Knuckles the Echidna, Sonic and his new friend Miles “Tails” Prower set out to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands. The reviews so far have commended the video game sequel for “delivering the same blend of frenetic family fun and nostalgic beats” as the first movie.
Directed by Jeff Fowler and starring Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog, alongside a supporting cast that includes James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Shemar Moore, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Idris Elba, and Jim Carrey, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is scheduled for theatrical release in the United States on April 8, 2022, by Paramount Pictures in association with Sega Sammy Group.
