Just the like other movies in this widely beloved video game franchise,Sonic the Hedgehog 3aims to build upon the lore that’s been established in the original film and grow even bigger and bolder with its storytelling. One of the major ways by which it’s doing this is through the introduction of new, fun characters from the game, both heroes and villains, to help keep this series moving into the future. One ofthese characters is Shadow the Hedgehog, one of Sonic’s rivals throughout the games.He will appear in the third movie, but his arrival could cause problems.
While it’s important for sequels to increase their scope and raise the stakesin as many ways as possible, it’s also crucial to stay true to the spirit of the story and not get overambitious. This is something thatSonic the Hedgehog 2achieved really well, treating long-term fans of the video games with some surprise characters and locations, but it was still very accessible and easy to enjoy for casual audiences. Not much is known about the story ofSonic the Hedgehog 3, but it must display a similar adherence to this rule.
Sonic Risks Becoming A Supporting Character In Sonic 3 Thanks To Shadow
Shadow Could Easily Outshine The Film’s Protagonist
As with any exciting casting announcement, the arrival of Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog is the biggest talking point in the run-up to the film’s release. It’s one of the most exciting things that audiences have to look forward to, and given the minimal plot details that have been released so far, it’s actually one of the only things that can be expected with any certainty.Much of the film’s marketing is centered around Shadowand his voice actor, but this could be bad news for Sonic himself.
Sonic 3’s Shadow The Hedgehog Story Could’ve Been Very Different If Not For This Jim Carrey Decision
Jim Carrey’s return as Dr. Robotnik and introduction as Dr. Gerald Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 are crucial to the origins of Shadow the Hedgehog.
While it’s great thatSonic the Hedgehog 3has a new character to get audiences interested, it’s important that the film doesn’t forget who the true protagonist is. These are Sonic’s films, and he’s the character that viewers have grown attached to throughout the previous two films, so it’s his story that should be at the forefront ofSonic the Hedgehog 3. If the sequel focuses too heavily on Shadow, a character that casual audiences may not yet know or care about, it might be difficult to fully invest in the narrative.
Shadow is just as powerful as Sonic, and his inclusion in the narrative is sure to cause plenty of problems for the hero, but their inevitable conflict should almost definitely be told from Sonic’s perspective. Whileit’s tempting to give Keanu Reeves’ character as much screen time as possible, given the actor’s immense popularity in today’s internet age, this could only serve to the detriment of the story as a whole.
The Character Has An Ever-Growing Fan Base
Given the marketing’s clear focus on Shadow in the months beforeSonic the Hedgehog3’s release, it’s unavoidable that audiences will have a clearer perception of exactly who this character is by the time they’re seated for the film. Video game fans will already know quite a bit about his backstory, ashe’s been an integral part of the franchise for a long time, but more casual audiences also have the opportunity to learn about him before the film is finally released. This will only increase Shadow’s popularity, which could makeSonic the Hedgehog 3a box office hit.
The otherSonicmovies all performed strongly at the box office, which has placed somepressure onSonic 3to perform well commercially. If it doesn’t, the film could easily be viewed as a failure, which will only have detrimental effects on the future of the franchise. Thankfully,Shadow’s growing status as a popular character and fan-favorite figurecan only be beneficial to the box office potential, but it shouldn’t affect the way this story is told.
Sonic Already Has To Share The Spotlight With Other Great Characters In The Movies
The Ensemble Cast Is The Best Part Of The Franchise
One of the major obstacles standing in the way of Sonic fully taking the spotlight in his own movie is the excellent ensemble cast of supporting characters, Shadow being just one example of this. Characters such as Tails and Knuckles are hugely entertaining, and their popularity among theSonicfanbase means there’s always going to be calls for them to have more screen time.It’s difficult to balance all of these characterswithout putting Sonic’s storyline to the side, and Shadow’s introduction could only make this even more difficult.
Additionally, theSonicmovies also have live-action Hollywood stars like Jim Carrey and James Marsden to include in the story, andtheir eccentric performances often steal the showfrom the animated characters. The film’s inevitable struggle to balance all these characters’ stories, including Shadow, is almost certainly going to be the biggest obstacle to overcome.Sonic 2had a similar problem with Tails, who was frequently sidelined despite being the main draw of the movie.
The Sonic The Hedgehog Movies Must Never Forget Who The Main Character Is
Sonic Should Definitely Remain At The Forefront Of The Story
While it can certainly be fun to put other characters at the forefront of the story for a while, theSonicmovies have a clear protagonist and it should stay that way. Yes, the side characters offer some of the franchise’s most entertaining moments and deliver some of the most memorable quotes, butthe plot always revolves around Sonic and his dynamic with the other figures. This is how the storytelling has worked for the first two films, and it would be a shame to seeSonic the Hedgehog 3divert from that.
There is certainly room for Shadow to stand in the spotlight for certain moments inSonic 3- he doesn’t have to be relegated to a generic villain or anti-hero who only exists to oppose Sonic, but he equally shouldn’t be the main focus of the story.
There is certainly room for Shadow to stand in the spotlight for certain moments inSonic 3- he doesn’t have to be relegated to a generic villain or anti-hero who only exists to oppose Sonic, but he equally shouldn’t be the main focus of the story. It’s possible that the sequel will give him a kind of redemption arc, which would allow him to shine alongside Sonic rather than in his place. This may be the safest and most interesting way of introducing Shadow as a character without jeopardizing any of Sonic’s importance.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Cast
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 reunites Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails as they face a formidable new adversary, Shadow. With Shadow’s unprecedented powers posing a significant threat, Team Sonic seeks an unexpected alliance to thwart his plans and safeguard the planet.
