Despite Paramount’s plans to expand Sonic the Hedgehog‘s cinematic universe, I’m not convinced one character has the ability to carry their own spinoff. Since the debut of the first Sonic movie in 2020, the film series has successfully brought numerous video game characters to the screen in Sonic the Hedgehog‘s trilogy. The Sonic movies frequently earn praise for translating the extensive video game lore into motion pictures, featuring characters from Sonic’s friends to his foes, with Shadow the Hedgehog being the latest example. By adapting one of the most cherished backstories, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 served as a reminder of the strength of Sonic’s characters.

Without a doubt, there are plenty of future routes for the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. There is much more of Green Hills to explore, with an abundance of characters from the games and previous series that could be easily incorporated into new movies and TV shows. The announcement of additional spinoff stories from the production company has generated excitement and questions about their lead character. Throughout the trilogy, one character in particular has never been the center of attention, and despite my affection for all of Sonic’s friends, I hope Tails doesn’t get his own spinoff project.

Most Sonic Characters Could Carry Their Own Spinoffs

Paramount Is Expanding Its Sega Cinematic Universe

In a report from ComicBook, it is confirmed that Paramount Pictures is expected to expand its cinematic universe and produce spinoffs around beloved characters from Sega. The production company has already seen a remarkable run with the Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy, and recent praise of how the latest Sonic film incorporated Shadow’s backstory only heightens the demand for further stories. Across multiple feature-length films, audiences and critics have been particularly impressed with the way filmmakers have handled and selected characters for the big screen — so it would be fun to see any Sonic character carry their own spinoff.

Much of the speculation has signaled a spinoff featuring Shadow the Hedgehog, which aligns best with the recent events of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and the anti-hero’s teased return in the post-credits scene. That said, the franchise boasts a wealth of characters, all of which possess the potential for a strong storyline unaccompanied by Sonic. Aside from Shadow, Amy Rose and Tails appear to be the main contenders. There’s even a case to be made for Dr. Robotnik as a viable option. However, Tails could be the least likely candidate for a spinoff project.

Tails Shouldn’t Get His Own Spinoff Story

Tails Is A Secondary Character In The Sonic Universe

While Tails is a much-loved character in the Sega universe, and his character has continued to provide entertainment to audiences, he’s never sustained his own story. This is with good cause, as Tails is more of a sidekick than a hero. His primary purpose is as Sonic’s best friend and close confidant. Tails completely relies on Sonic’s behavior to guide his own actions and decisions. Therefore, without Sonic, Tails lacks the strength to anchor a standalone story. He doesn’t really work as a character outside of Team Sonic, which is demonstrated in the exclusive Paramount+ series for Knuckles.

Even though he has a bit more focus than Tails, Knuckles’ poorly received series suggests that Tails alone might not be compelling enough for his own spinoff. Knuckles was criticized for being unnecessary, and seemingly redundant in the grand scheme of the cinematic universe. The series lacked impact and Sonic the Hedgehog 3‘s failure to acknowledge the story suggests the source material didn’t resonate strongly enough. Therefore, any character chosen for a spinoff needs to be captivating enough to draw in viewers, and the spinoff itself should feel like a meaningful continuation of their story.

A Tails Spinoff Wouldn’t Work Without Sonic

Sonic Would Likely Be The Center Of A Tails Story

Giving Tails his own spinoff presents a huge challenge for the studio, as it’s hard to envision how they could make it successful – both in terms of viewership and narrative – without incorporating Sonic. This is particularly the case given Tails’ dependence on the franchise’s protagonist, meaning Sonic is likely to be the one to take charge of any dynamic between the two. Sonic is a big personality and commands the screen, so he would likely overshadow Tails and ultimately make an independent story difficult to execute.

More importantly, many solo appearances by Tails have centered around his desire to establish his resourcefulness, and although they are entertaining stories, they relate back to his inability to be perceived as an equal to Sonic. Not to mention, Tails’ gameplay in the Sonic games is far more slow-paced and exploration-based, such as Tails Adventure, for instance. A spinoff for the lovable character would need a stronger hook that would establish his own goals independent of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Source: ComicBook

Sonic the Hedgehog

Movie(s)

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie (1996), Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022), Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)

First Film

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie (1996)

TV Show(s)

Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Underground (1999), Sonic X (2003), Sonic Boom (2014), Sonic Prime (2022), Knuckles (2024)

Video Game(s)

Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog CD, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes, Sonic Unleashed, Sonic Colors, Sonic Generations, Sonic Lost World, Sonic Forces, Sonic Frontiers , Sonic Shuffle, Sonic Advance 1, Sonic Advance 2, Sonic Advance 3, Sonic Rush, Sonic Rush Adventure, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood

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