The beloved blue speedster is primed to return in Sonic the Hedgehog 4, and there are already a ton of updates about the video game movie franchise’s next installment. Based on the тιтular character from the Sega gaming universe, the Sonic the Hedgehog movie series follows Sonic and his pals Tails and Knuckles as they try to stop the nefarious plans of Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey). In the latest adventure, Sonic and the gang take on two generations of Robotniks and their newest ally, the ultra-powerful Shadow the Hedgehog (voiced by Keanu Reeves) who wants to destroy the entire world.

Upping the ante after two fun and well-received installments, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 got high praise from critics (via Rotten Tomatoes) and marks a more dramatic turn for the franchise. Besides all that, the latest Sonic movie has also introduced fan-favorite Shadow, as well as teased even more exciting characters from the games in its ending. All that adds up to a fourth installment, and work is already underway on bringing the video game classic back to the big screen. While Sonic the Hedgehog 4 might be a ways off, it’s already racing into production.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Latest News

The Release Date Is Revealed For Sonic 4

With things already moving fast for the upcoming fourquel, the latest news confirms the release date for Sonic the Hedgehog 4. It was already known that the movie was gunning for a 2027 release, but that window has now been narrowed down to March 19, 2027. This means the fourth installment will come a little over two years after the release of the third installment. However, a change in release date is always possible between now and then.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Release Date

The Sequel Was Confirmed In 2024

Just days before the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Paramount made their franchise plans clear when they green-lit another movie. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is not only confirmed, but it has already been given a release date of March 19, 2027. This news not only suggests that the movie was already being developed before the announcement, but that Paramount likely has a larger masterplan in mind that involves more Sonic the Hedgehog content. With a production timeline almost identical to the previous sequels, there’s no reason to think that Sonic 4 won’t arrive on time.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Cast Details

Will Sonic, Tails, Knuckles & Shadow Return?

With each new installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog movie franchise, the cast of lovable characters has expanded to include more and more fan-favorites from the games. This trend is expected to continue going into Sonic the Hedgehog 4, and Sonic 3‘s ending even introduced a few newcomers that are certain to return. Other returns include those of Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails, and Idris Elba as Knuckles, and the core trio grew even stronger after the events of the third movie.

The post-credits scene in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 revealed that Shadow survived the Eclipse Cannon, meaning Keanu Reeves could be back. It’s uncertain if Jim Carrey will return to play Dr. Ivo Robotnik in the next movie, both because his character seemingly didn’t survive, and because Carrey came out of retirement to star in Sonic 3. Human characters Tom Wachowski (played by James Marsden), and Maddie Wachowski (Tika Sumpter) will also likely return to ᴀssist their superpowered friends. Metal Sonic and Amy Rose will both probably be back in Sonic 4, but their roles haven’t been cast yet.

The cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 will likely include:

Actor	Sonic the Hedgehog Role
Ben Schwartz	Sonic
Colleen O’Shaughnessey	Tails
Idris Elba	Knuckles
Keanu Reeves	Shadow
James Marsden	Tom Wachowski
Tika Sumpter	Maddie Wachowski
Unknown	Metal Sonic
Unknown	Amy Rose

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Story Details

A New Villain & A New Ally

The ending of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was unsurprisingly inconclusive, and besides wrapping up a few storylines, mostly served to establish the conflict in Sonic 4. Dr. Ivo Robotnik and Shadow turned on the much more evil Dr. Gerald Robotnik, and saved the Earth from the Eclipse Canon. Unfortunately, it seemingly cost them both their lives in the process. While Shadow was revealed to have survived, Dr. Robotnik’s fate was left inconclusive. This could have repercussions in the sequel as Sonic and the team grapple with the fallout of losing their longtime enemy-turned-ally.

However, they might not get much time to think about that as the mid-credits sequence introduced an army of robotic Sonics, and he was only saved by the intervention of Amy Rose and her hammer. The most logical approach to Sonic the Hedgehog 4 would be to have Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy Rose, and perhaps even Shadow, fight off the robotic impersonators while trying to discover who created them in the first place.

The introduction of Amy Rose could introduce some conflict into the group as well, and the trio of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles might find their delicate balance thrown off by the arrival of a fourth member. Based on Amy Rose from the games, she might also develop a crush on Sonic, which could further complicate their world-saving dynamic. The Wachowskis will fit into the mix somehow as well, and with Tom recovered from the events of Sonic 3, he might be less eager to get involved in Sonic the Hedgehog 4.