Sonic 3 Gets A Release Date: Teases Shadow the Hedgehog

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 announces its release date and teases Shadow from the sequel post-credit scene.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 will be released on December 20, 2024.

“Off and RUNNING,” posted the film’s social media accounts which features a clapperboard, as director Jeff Fowler is now filming.

The image also features a look at Shadow The Hedgehog who in the game’s lore is more of an anti-hero than a villain.

Off and RUNNING. #SonicMovie3
Only in theatres December 20, 2024 pic.twitter.com/BUIlurNIC0

— Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) November 29, 2023

Shadow the Hedgehog debuted in the 2001 Sonic Adventure 2 video game and 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 not evil, as the character is 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.” 

Watch the post-credit scene: