Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the most beloved video game characters of all time and as of last year, the star of perhaps the best movie based on a video game franchise. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is set to release next year, introducing beloved characters Tails and Knuckles to the big screen, but among the 30-year catalogue of characters, setting and concepts explored in the games, what should follow them into theaters?
The 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog film changed a number of things about the blue blur's backstory, with all of the human characters being the biggest change. The film also introduced the concept of multiple universes, accessible to Sonic through the use of his iconic golden rings. While this was, in large part, created for the film, it opens up a world of possibilities for the larger franchise.
Fans were thrilled to discover, through on-set photos, that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 would feature both Tails and Knuckles, the first two side characters any person would be able to name. Miles "Tails" Prower was introduced in the video game Sonic 2 in 1992 as a playable character and as a sidekick who would run alongside Sonic. He has since been characterized as a young but brilliant inventor who idolizes Sonic. Knuckles the Echidna was introduced in 1994's Sonic & Knuckles, an expansion that literally plugged into the Sonic 2 cartridge, unlocking him as a playable character. Knuckles is a tough guy, typically characterized as Sonic's rival, who is good-hearted, strong-willed, and wise, but kind of an idiot. The trio has been the heart of the Sonic franchise since their inception, but the ensuing games have introduced an army of variously well-known robots, aliens, and personified woodland creatures.
Sonic's entourage of side characters is frequently a subject of ridicule for detractors of the franchise, as many of them are forgotten as quickly as they're introduced. Dozens of characters have disappeared between games or been quietly relegated to the occasional group shot. Some characters have stuck around. In fact, one of them has been a stable part of the franchise longer than Knuckles. Amy Rose, a pink hedgehog with a deep crush on Sonic was introduced in 1993's Sonic CD and has remained a beloved character ever since. In fact, those four characters, Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy are the leading team of Sonic Boom, the most recent cartoon iteration of the franchise. Amy is iconic, key to the franchise, and has undergone a number of personality changes, meaning the character can fit many roles.
Among the many sidelined characters haunting previous games is a goldmine of fun and unique characters. Sonic the Hedgehog's multiverse concept opens the franchise up to a massive sprawling map that could include a variety of engaging spin-off films. With the introduction of Knuckles, the filmmakers could follow in the game designer's footsteps by creating a spin-off with a new team, lead by Sonic's red rival. Knuckles' Chaotix came out in 1995, unveiling the titular Chaotix, a team comprised of Mighty the Armadillo, Espio the Chameleon, Vector the Crocodile, and Charmy the Bee.
The game was not a success, and it largely faded into obscurity, along with every member of the cast except for Knuckles. The Chaotix team reappeared over a decade later, now as a team of private detectives who solve mysteries and find lost items for cash. A detective movie, starring anthropomorphic animals in a version of the real world dealing with the sudden presence of these strange sentient creatures could be a bizarre sleeper hit.
One of the consistent elements of the Sonic games franchise is constant change, how appropriate to a character known for going fast to blow through concepts and characters too fast to focus on them. Aside from Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik, portrayed charmingly by Jim Carrey in the film, Sonic has had very few recurring enemies. Robotnik has developed multiple robot representations of Sonic in his attempts to defeat him, the best known of which is Metal Sonic. Metal Sonic has been a boss fight in numerous Sonic games, occasionally growing so strong that he becomes the main threat. Robotnik has always reappeared in the franchise, even when a new threat is introduced, the mad scientist sticks around to sling insults and clash with his hedgehog nemesis. Metal Sonic could be a fun antagonist for an upcoming film, possibly even a threat great enough to force Carrey's Robotnik and Ben Schwartz's Sonic into a temporary alliance.
The world Sonic comes from goes unnamed in the film, but in the comics and many of the games, Sonic hails from a world called Mobius. The planet Mobius is a little different in each portrayal, but its hallmarks are beautiful natural biomes juxtaposed against heavy industrial cities and factories. The planet is large and varied and is the setting of the overwhelming majority of Sonic media. The film's opening, with the new character Longclaw the Owl and a tribe of Echidna, seems to resemble Mobius. Bringing more of the film to the wacky cartoon world of Mobius carries with it a more bizarre tone and a great sense of fun. Perhaps, to maintain the Roger Rabbit-esque mix of live-action and cartoon characters, James Marsden's good-natured cop could find himself the fish out of water in Sonic's homeworld.
Also among the pile of features from Sonic games of the past, are a huge selection of powers and abilities that the blue blur could use. The best known and longest-lasting of which is certainly Super Sonic, a temporary enhancement that grants flight, invulnerability, and immense destructive power. Super Sonic is only accessible through the use of the Chaos Emeralds, seven mystical gems which serve as the franchise's main MacGuffin. Sonic's power in the film is represented as the blue lightning which emits from his quills as he runs, and while he is certainly powerful, Super Sonic is a massive upgrade. A quest to acquire the seven Chaos Emeralds could be a fun plot motivation for an upcoming film and the reveal of Super Sonic would be an incredible triumphant moment for fans of any generation.
Sonic the Hedgehog was beloved by fans and new audiences alike, and the mountain of games provides fodder for a sprawling franchise. While much of the series' iconography has been single-use, the elements that have stood the test of time and even some of the lesser-known details could add tons of fun to the speedy hero's upcoming big screen adventures, in Sonic the Hedgehog 2Â and beyond.