Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has a deep bench of video game characters it could pull from, but these ten characters probably won’t make the cut. After the mᴀssive success of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, fans have been eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the Blue Blur’s adventures — especially after the post-credits scene brought fan-favorites Amy Rose and Metal Sonic to the big screen. There are dozens of other video game characters from the Sonic universe who could follow suit, bringing their own wild energy to the movie franchise.

However, there are some characters who work well in the games but might not make such an easy transition to the cinematic universe. Sometimes this can be chalked up to the complexity of their backstories or how it wouldn’t fit within the established canon of the Sonic movies. Other times, it’s because the characters would feel redundant in light of other corners of the universe. Here are eight great characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog games that I’d be shocked to see make the leap to Sonic the Hedgehog 4.

8

Tikal

Debuted In Sonic Adventure (1998)

Tikal is one of the more important Echidnas in the Sonic the Hedgehog video games, but the changes made to those characters for the live-action films make it unlikely that she’ll ever make the leap to that universe. Tikal was an ancient member of Knuckles’ clan, who sealed herself and the enтιтy known as Chaos within the Master Emerald.

This set up the plot of Sonic Adventure, wherein she serves as a spirit guide for the heroes. Knuckles has already poked fun at that spirit guide concept, undercutting any stakes or drama that could with Tikal’s situation. The movies have also largely skipped Sonic Adventure in lieu of adapting elements of Sonic Adventure 2 instead.

This shift suggests the film series isn’t interested in exploring Tikal’s plotline. Tikal’s backstory involves the history of the Echidnas, which has already been changed and tweaked by the film adaptations. Tikal is likely just too complicated to be worth her addition to the cinematic universe.

7

Emerl

Debuted In Sonic Battle (2003)

Emerl has one of the most bizarre backstories of any Sonic the Hedgehog character, making his inclusion in the movies unlikely. An ancient robot that was used to wipe out a civilization thousands of years prior, Emerl was rediscovered in the present day and unleashed into the world.

Emerl is ultimately a tragic story in the games, potentially possessing the spirit of Maria Robotnik before being turned evil by Dr. Eggman, forcing Sonic to destroy it. Emerl is a surprisingly important character in Sonic Battle, too, effectively driving the plot.

This means an adaptation might divert too much attention from the Blue Blur. While Emerl would make for a fascinating character for a future Sonic film, it seems unlikely that the filmmakers would want to try and unpack the robot’s complex backstory while taking focus away from Sonic.

6

Orbot and Cubot

Debuted In Sonic Unleashed & Sonic Colors

Orbot and Cubot are two of Dr. Eggman’s most consistent ᴀssistants in the modern Sonic games, a pair of bumbling robots who actively apologize for their evil antics. The pair are solid silly addition to the world of Sonic, which would make them a natural fit for the comedic tone of the live-action movies.

However, that role has been more or less taken over by Agent Stone, who has proven to be one of the Sonic movies’ most unexpected ᴀssets. Orbot and Cubot are fun minor villains, but unnecessary when you have Agent Stone

5

E-102 Gamma

Debuted In Sonic Adventure (1998)

Another character introduced in Sonic Adventure, E-102 Gamma, is a fun but tragic character that raises some big questions that the Sonic series hasn’t seemed interested in exploring. E-102 is one of the robots created by Dr. Robotnik, which are informally known as the Badniks.

However, E-102 retains the memories of the animal trapped inside the robot, leading him to sympathize with Amy Rose and eventually turn on Robotnik. E-102’s entire arc revolves around the game mechanic of the robots containing animals, an element that has been dropped by the movies.

There’s also the design of the character, which replaces one of his arms with a giant gun that likely wouldn’t be approved of by some audiences. E-102 Gamma could easily go on to inspire other characters, especially with his connection to Amy and Sonic 4‘s teased focus on Metal Sonic, but the actual character from the games likely won’t make the leap to the big screen.

4

The Black Doom

Debuted In Shadow The Hedgehog (2005)

A powerful alien with plans for Earth, the Black Doom’s connection to Shadow the Hedgehog makes him an intriguing threat that would be near impossible to bring to the big screen. The branching paths’ nature of Shadow the Hedgehog means the filmmakers would have plenty of options to pull from if condensing the character for the big screen.

However, all these different possible paths left Black Doom with an unnecessarily complex backstory and set of motivations, which tie into his apparent connection to Shadow. While the Black Doom could make for a compelling big bad, his sheer alien nature and convoluted storyline make him less likely to appear in the more streamlined movies.

3

Fang The Hunter

Debuted In Sonic Triple Trouble (1994)

A classic minor Sonic the Hedgehog character who has appeared in multiple mediums, Fang the Hunter seems to be an ideal addition to the cinematic Sonic the Hedgehog universe. A wildcard bounty hunter with a mean streak, Fang could make for a fun antagonist.

However, his possible role as a wildcard would also be better filled by Rogue the Bat, a fan favorite who adds a bit more personality to that morally grey archetype. He’d also be hard to easily introduce to the real world. Fang would be a fun addition, but it might be effort better spent on characters like Rogue.

Fang is one of the characters who works best in the Sonic universe when the talking animal creatures are simply a norm of the world, like in the Sonic Adventure тιтles. In the more grounded world of the Sonic movies, where the characters are all technically aliens, it’s harder to simply slot Fang into the story.

2

The Babylon Rogues

Debuted In Sonic Riders (2006)

A trio of thieves, the Babylon Rogues operate as a dark contrast to Team Sonic in a way that could make them fun antagonists. However, like Fang, the Sonic movies would have to explain how they factor into the world. The fact that there are three of them makes it even less likely that they would make the leap to the big screen.

A movie with the Babylon Rogues would have to dedicate time introducing Jet, Wave, and Storm — time that could instead be spent on more important characters. While the trio’s unique antagonism with Team Sonic would make them fun enemies to run into, the nature of the cinematic universe makes it harder to easily slot them into the setting.

1

Eggman Nega

Debuted In Sonic Rush (2005)

A distant descendant of Doctor Robotnik in the future that Silver hails from, Nega Eggman is an interesting contrast to the cinematic Robotnik. A more outwardly calm character who is revealed over the course of his appearances to be a far more dangerous and unstable threat. If Sonic 4 is indeed going to the future, Eggman Nega could be a fitting threat.

However, it might be too much of a departure from the characterization of Robotnik in the movies, whose boisterous and cartoonishly evil antics are among the best parts of the story. Replacing him with someone like Eggman Nega might feel too familiar on the surface level and too different in terms of the actual character.

Eggman Nega would be a fun pick for Sonic the Hedgehog 4, especially as a means of introducing other characters like Blaze or Silver. However, if the movies want to escape the orbit of Robotnik, Eggman Nega might be too familiar. While he’d make a good villain, it’s unlikely that Sonic the Hedgehog 4 will look to Eggman Nega as their next big bad.