When the original trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog came out the negative fan reaction to Sonic's design certainly didn't spur hopes that this was the video game adaptation fans had been waiting for. However, after a massive course correction in the form of a total redesign of Sonic, hopes began to raise a little bit. When the movie finally released, audiences were surprised by the amount of joy and entertainment that seemed to leap off the screen. There were even Olive Garden references, because Sonic, like any sane person, just wants to get a belly full of pasta and breadsticks in the company of family and friends.
So with the end credits of the first movie teasing the arrival of Sonic's buddy Tails, fans are starting to imagine the possibilities that a sequel could bring. With a large stable of Sonic games to choose from including pinball knockoffs, racing games, and even Olympic sports, there are so many options for the filmmakers to include Easter eggs. Here are some of the Sonic series staples that should make it into the next movie.
Knuckles
Okay, so Sonic's buff n' tough rival Knuckles technically doesn't make an appearance until the original Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on Sega Genesis, but we're willing to let the movies skip ahead a bit because he's just the coolest. He's also fast, but he can climb and punch stuff too, making the type of action set pieces that he can interact with on-screen a bit more varied. He's also been known to protect a certain Master Emerald, which brings up the next must-have items of the Sonic universe.
The Chaos Emeralds
No, not all emeralds in Sonic the Hedgehog are green, silly. Forget the definitions that logically make sense and embrace the Infinity Stones of the Sonic Universe. The Chaos Emeralds in the original games were typically obtained by scoring highly enough within special stages that Sonic usually accesses by jumping into giant rings at the end of levels.
In the first Sonic movie, Jim Carrey's Dr. Robotnik was apparently stranded in Sonic's world, having lost his hair and acquired his more classic look in the process. As the evil Doctor is already aware that Sonic has a special energy about him that he wished to acquire in the first movie and still has some of his tech with him, it only makes sense that his next move would be to seek out other sources of energy. This also leads to some interesting possibilities for Sonic.
Super Sonic
If Sonic the Hedgehog and Goku were combined, the result would be Super Sonic. Trading in his signature blue for a Super Saiyan gold, this version of Sonic is faster, more powerful, and can fly in most of the games. Instead of transforming when he reaches his limit or gets incredibly angry like a Saiyan, Sonic transforms once he collects all of the Chaos Emeralds.
If nothing else, the inclusion of Super Sonic would allow for an entirely different climactic battle from the first movie, allowing Sonic to take the fight to Robotnik on a grander scale. Or, the movie could take it in the opposite direction, and maybe Sonic has never wielded the emeralds before. This could be a story about him having to work with Knuckles to learn to master the emeralds and go Super Sonic in order to defeat Robotnik. There's another way Sonic's past can help to flesh out why Robotnik is currently such a threat.
Furry Critters Trapped in Robots
In Sonic games, destroying robots means setting an adorable one of Sonic's critter friends free. Robotnik put the animals inside of robots for nefarious purposes, but they always bounce or run away looking pleased to bits like they have no memory the ordeal ever even occurred. Kids love cute animals, so it makes total sense to bring this element back.
Additionally, there are a lot of opportunities for some comedic gold here if the writers play their cards right. If the critters are made to be upsettingly adorable, then it's likely to mesh well with the quick comedic pacing of the first film. Think Isma from The Emperor's New Groove after she's transformed into a squirrel (but not evil) or Baby Pegasus from Hercules, and make them add a hint of sass and sarcasm to the way these animals speak to Sonic.
The Casino Night Zone
The lights, the music, and running Sonic through giant slot machine looking areas made the Casino Night Zone one of the most memorable. There's not really a great reason to throw in a casino area to a family film, but the Casino Night Zone is such a standout level in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 that including it in some way would certainly earn the movie a lot of points with fans of the games. At the very least, have Sonic run through an area that looks like it. The filmmakers wouldn't even have to call it by name, just make sure to have the musical theme of this level in the score and the Sonic fans will know. They'll just know.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will release in theaters on April 8, 2022.