Director Jeff Fowler delivered everything fans hoped for in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and he took all of it very seriously. While talking with ScreenRant for the movie’s digital release, the filmmaker behind all three installments of the hit video game adaptation broke down his approach to faithfully adapting the source material, namely the epic final fight between Shadow and Sonic, as well as why the movies have not directly adapted a certain sequence from the games.

Though having made his directorial debut on the first movie, Fowler has actually been a major part of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise going back to his time as an animator, working on the CGI movie production team for the 2005 Shadow the Hedgehog spinoff game. This led to his recreating numerous iconic sH๏τs in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, namely Shadow wielding a gun while onboard a motorcycle.

With the character being one of the biggest introductions to the franchise yet, Fowler took the casting of Shadow very seriously, with Keanu Reeves playing the iconic antihero in the threequel. Combined with an emotional story for the character, as well as for Jim Carrey in the double role of Ivo Robotnik and his grandfather Gerald, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 not only became the best-reviewed installment in the franchise, but also the best-reviewed video game movie of all-time on Rotten Tomatoes.

In honor of the movie’s digital release, ScreenRant interviewed Jeff Fowler to discuss Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the movie’s groundbreaking success, creating the emotional and fitting ending for Carrey’s Robotnik, why the movies have only slightly adapted an iconic sequence from the games, the post-credits introductions of Amy and Metal Sonic, and an update on the development of Sonic the Hedgehog 4.

Having Critics Onboard For Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Is All The More Meaningful For Fowler

“Obviously, we make these movies for the fans…”

ScreenRant: I must admit, going back to when I was a kid, I’m a huge fan of this franchise, and the movies and the TV show have done it so much justice, so kudos to you and the team on that. This movie has set so many records, not only at the box office, but especially with the reviews. I’d love to hear what it’s been like for you to see such a strong reaction to this film.

Jeff Fowler: It’s been incredible. Obviously, we make these movies for the fans and for family audiences and people all around the world. That is our priority, to give them a great experience. The sort of multi-generational fans, like the parents that grew up with the characters, can share it with their kids, and hopefully the kids then can become fans. But then, to have the critics side of things is great. Honestly, we work really hard on these films, we take the storytelling very seriously, so to be acknowledged in such a positive light is great. Really very proud, and proud of everyone who contributed to the film.

Fowler Recognizes City Escape Has Only Been “Flirted With” In The Movies

“…it obviously is such an iconic sequence…”

Now, you talk about wanting to please the fans, you’ve mentioned before how the fans would hunt you down if you left out “Live and Learn”, and I was very thrilled by its inclusion, but I will say I’ve been crying out since the first movie for “Escape from the City”, and I saw it was in the credits, but I didn’t actually catch it in the movie. Have you had any thoughts about properly doing that sequence in one of these movies?

Jeff Fowler: 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 separate context. But anyways, no, it obviously is such an iconic sequence, so I don’t fault you for asking.

Agent Stone & Robotnik’s Final Scene Is A “Wonderful Way To Celebrate” Their Relationship

“…it just lent itself to such great story material.”

Now, in looking at the story, because obviously, there are a lot of spoilers to talk about. First and foremost, Ivo Robotnik’s fate really brought me to tears both times I saw it in theaters. I’d love to hear your take on it, because when I talked to Pat and Josh right as the movie was coming out, they said he is definitely, definitely ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, unless…And obviously, the big challenge with 3 was coming up with a story that intrigued him to come back. So I’d love to hear what your thoughts are on Robotnik’s fate in this one.

Jeff Fowler: Yeah, I mean, honestly, what a wonderful way to celebrate Robotnik and Stone’s relationship. It just clicked, because, initially, it was all about bringing Jim back to play two characters, and that was the pitch. It was like, the first two films, we’ve always explored family, but from Sonic’s perspective, and what a great opportunity it would be to now do that from Robotnik’s side of things. And what does that do to him? How does he change once he has family in his life? That was such an interesting question to ask, and it was something that I know Jim latched on to and just gave him some new territory.

It’s the last thing he would ever want to do is come back and just rehash the same performance from other films. So to get to now have Ivo as this sort of doting grandson to Gerald was just such a fun sort of concept. But then, to turn out that he’s had family all along right in front of him. It might not be blood family, but Stone is family nonetheless, and the love is there. So it’s just great, it just lent itself to such great story material. And it’s wonderful to hear that landed for you because, for all the action and bombastic nature of our third act, that it becomes kind of so simple and so emotional at the end, I think, is something we’re all really proud of.

Updates For Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Will Come In Due Time

Amy & Metal Sonic Are Just As Important To Fowler As Anyone Else

So now, we have obviously heard that Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is already in the works. Are you cooking up ideas for how to woo Jim back, or are you kind of thinking that you’re gonna leave that be for now?

Jeff Fowler: I am enjoying a few weeks of respite from all the craziness. December was obviously a blur with the promotion and the release, and then once all the dust settles, it’ll be time to figure out next steps and start to have those conversations. But, yeah, it’s so exciting to see the enthusiasm, the anticipation, all be there for what’s next, because it’s really challenging to keep these movies feeling fresh and have the stories feel fresh, and keep the momentum. So that’s the goal above everything.

One of the things I’m really excited about seeing in the next one is the proper arrival of Amy, after getting her in the credits for this one. Obviously, with Shadow’s introduction, we didn’t get a voice, and we didn’t get a voice with Amy for this one either. So I know you’ve got a few-week respite before getting back to work on 4, but have you already thought about who you want to play her? Or are you waiting to see what Pat and Josh come up with in the script to match the actor?

Jeff Fowler: I love to just watch the fan conversation, and just see where things go. Obviously, casting is such a huge part of any of these characters, but it does kind of come from the needs of the story and of the script. So, I think I want to make sure that, whatever direction it goes, that it is servicing the character needs for whatever story is being told.

Well, you’ve done a fantastic job with the casting so far, so I’m sure you’re going to do a great job with casting Amy for the next one. Now, also in that same sequence, we see the Metal Sonics. In the games, those are obviously created by Ivo, but is there already a plan of who actually created these? Or is that something you’re saving for going into work on the fourth one?

Jeff Fowler: I mean, usually the way these post-credit teasers work is we’re so jamming on finishing the film, but at the same time, you don’t want to just throw characters in there and not know what you’re going to do with them. So, there’s certainly, as we were winding down on Sonic 3, and as we were prepping that post-credit teaser, we absolutely have had a lot of really great creative discussions and got excited by some ideas. Because you don’t want to paint yourself into a corner and put a character in there and then not know what you’re going to do with it. But it’s all very preliminary, and much more work needing to come in order to really get that process going.

About Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails are back for their most epic adventure yet. The team reunites to face a new formidable foe, Shadow, a mysterious hedgehog with powers unlike anything they’ve ever seen. Team Sonic must secure an unexpected alliance if they hope to stop Shadow and save the planet. Keanu Reeves joins the all-star cast as Shadow the Hedgehog.

Check out our previous Sonic the Hedgehog 3 interviews with:

• Ben Schwartz
• Jim Carrey
• James Marsden & Tika Sumpter
• Colleen O’Shaughnessey & Krysten Ritter (Pre-Release)
• Lee Majdoub (Pre-Release)
• Jeff Fowler (Pre-Release)
• Cast & Crew Red Carpet Premiere
• Writers Pat Casey & Josh Miller
• Lee Majdoub (Post-Release)
• Colleen O’Shaughnessey (Post-Release)

Source: ScreenRant Plus