When the first images for the 2020 film Sonic the Hedgehog were released, most seemingly did not expect the film to be a commercial success. The original rendering of the titular character was heavily criticized for its bizarre appearance, with the blue hedgehog featuring human-like teeth that made him a meme on social media. Paramount Pictures quickly went back to work fixing the character, delaying the film’s original release date but protecting their investment. It paid off heavily with Sonic the Hedgehog generating over $300 million in box office receipts, establishing the animated character’s position in Hollywood. Now the movie studio is looking for repeated success with the sequel set to hit theaters next year, which it has just been announced began production this week.
Sonic the Hedgehog is celebrating his 30th birthday this year with his first appearance coming in a 1991 Sega arcade game before appearing in his own video games and animated series. The 2020 film ended up being one of the last major theatrical releases in the United States before COVID-19 put the country into quarantine, and it appears it may also be one of the first to hit theaters as we ease out of quarantine as well. Director Jeff Fowler announced via his Twitter account on Monday that production on the sequel is underway and it is set to hit theaters in April of next year. This time around though, Paramount shouldn’t have to be worried about any substantial delays unless we see another spike in COVID cases.
Video game film adaptations are nothing new, and the nostalgia for vintage pop culture is greater than ever before. Paramount seemingly picked the perfect time to finally bring this film franchise to life, and the receipts definitely support that assumption. Happy couples who celebrated Valentine’s Day with Sonic the Hedgehog can be eager to return to theaters in the coming year and they will be able to do so in the same exact style come next April.
