Sonic the Hedgehog movie franchise director Jeff Fowler has opened up on the decision to only slightly adapt one of the most iconic video game sequences. The Sonic movie franchise began with 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog, which starred James Marsden, Jim Carrey, and Ben Schwartz in the тιтular voice role. The film was a box office success, grossing over $320 million, and spawned two sequels, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and another sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 4, is set for a 2027 release.

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Fowler detailed the approach he took to recreating the video games’ iconic G.U.N. truck chase scene, in which Sonic is chased through the streets by an enormous truck sporting blades. He explained how he chose to flirt with the imagery without ever fully committing to it, but recognized the scene’s important and iconic nature. Check out his full comment below:

Yeah, it’s funny because the imagery, we’ve kind of flirted with it a little bit. Obviously in the first movie, when Sonic is being chased through San Francisco, but it’s obviously Robotnik chasing him, it’s not a giant G.U.N. truck, and then, of course, Sonic jumps out of the helicopter in this movie.

So, we’ve kind of flirted with it, but we’ve never just wholesale committed to it. And then, of course, we did the snowboard in Sonic 2 with the little piece of debris that he surfs around on. So, all the elements are there, just in a separate context. But anyway, no, it obviously is such an iconic sequence, so I don’t fault you for asking.

What Fowler’s Comments Mean For The Sonic Movies

The Games Should Be Regarded As Inspiration Only

It feels clear from Fowler’s comments that the director is using the games as inspiration, rather than a strict road map for an adaptation. This is a great approach to video game movies, as it allows for the best of both worlds. It’s a unique exploration of an established IP that still pays homage to the franchise. Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the most enduring video game characters of all time, and there’s every chance that fans would love to see a movie that essentially recreates the game, but this is clearly not what Fowler had in mind.

Tipping the hat to iconic moments and sequences, such as the G.U.N. truck scene, feels like a much better decision than trying to recreate them. It leaves more scope for getting creative this way, and it is easier to fit a fresh sequence into the movie’s narrative structure. This exemplifies Fowler as a filmmaker and a Sonic fan, who understands the differences between video games and movies, and how best to use the Sonic video game tropes in the movies.

Our Verdict On Fowler’s Decision To Overlook The Full Sequence

The Movies Need To Thrive Without Reliance On The Games

Video game adaptations are tricky because many deviate from the stories that made the games so popular to try to thrive on their own, but it’s also important to respect the source material. Fowler’s decision to do a “soft” adaptation of the G.U.N. truck sequence suggests he recognizes the need for balance, but also wants the movies to develop their own iconic scenes. The success of the Sonic the Hedgehog movies suggests the director might be right in his approach, and bodes well for the franchise’s future.