Thanks to merchandise and the Licensing Expo, Sonic The Hedgehog 3 shows off a first look at Shadow who is voiced by Keanu Reeves in the film.
The first footage that debuted recently at CinemaCon also featured Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles fighting against Shadow, but the footage hasn’t made its way online as of yet (likely being saved for the first trailer which should be soon).
Per the website, the “Licensing Expo has connected the world’s most influential entertainment, character, art, and corporate brand owners and agents with consumer goods manufacturers, licensees and retailers.”
So at the convention includes merchandise and a booth for Sonic the Hedgehog where In Pursuit of Toys posted pics, which includes a look at Shadow the Hedgehog, on their social media. See below.
The Shadow poster teases it’s the “Fearless Year of Shadow” (scroll through the Instagram post) and a banner shows a powered-up Shadow via the Sonic rings.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 will be released on December 20, 2024 directed by Jeff Fowler. Joining Keanu Reeves includes Ben Schwartz who returns to voice Sonic, with James Marsden as Tom Wachowski, Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski, Idris Elba as Knuckles, Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone, Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails, and Tom Butler as Commander Walters.
New to the cast includes Krysten Ritter, Alyla Browne, James Wolk, Sofia Pernas, Cristo Fernández, and Jorma Taccone.
First promo for ‘SONIC 3’ has been spotted.
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) May 23, 2024
(Via: @InPursuitofToys) pic.twitter.com/deJtjB87cn
Sonic and Sonic merch on display at the Licensing Expo @atlus_official booth. #sonicthehedgehog #sonic #sonicgame #atlus #toys #toycollector #toycommunity #licensingexpo #inpursuitoftoys pic.twitter.com/Y8ffaqQSrS
— In Pursuit of Toys (@InPursuitofToys) May 22, 2024
In the games, Shadow is an immortal, anthropomorphic black hedgehog created by Professor Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of Doctor Eggman, aka Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey).
Shadow the Hedgehog is also not considered evil, as the character is more of an anti-hero, “the anti-Sonic,” who will do whatever it takes, so this leads to confrontations with Sonic, where Shadow the Hedgehog is Sonic’s biggest rival. While Sonic is fun and jokey, Shadow the Hedgehog is much more serious.
With the use of Shadow, it’s been suggested Sonic 3 could have a different tone than the first two movies and wouldn’t have that similar humor to what they did with Knuckles.
“I think what fans respond to about him is that he’s a bit more no-nonsense, and definitely very in contrast to the other characters,” said Fowler following the release of Sonic The Hedgehog 2 and the post-credit scene.
Writer Josh Miller also said back in May of last year, “Shadow is clearly going to be in the franchise moving forward. I don’t think it’s revealing anything to say we’d love to incorporate elements from Sonic Adventure 2 and Shadow the Hedgehog, his solo spinoff game.”
