A visitor from another planet, Sonic the Hedgehog endeavors to live his best life on Earth, while keeping his special, speedy powers secret. When his presence is revealed, however, he must emerge from hiding and protect his power and the citizens of Earth from a dastardly villain. Who, exactly, is Sonic, where does he come from, and why must he protect the planet? Here's everything you need to know before you go see Sonic the Hedgehog in theaters.
Where did Sonic the Hedgehog come from?
Introduced in 1991 for the Sega Genesis game system, Sonic the Hedgehog followed the lovable blue hedgehog as he sought to defeat a villainous scientist named Doctor Ivo Robotnik. The game was well received by critics and the public, inspiring ports to other platforms and many sequels, becoming one of the most popular game franchises in history.
Have we ever seen Sonic the Hedgehog on the big screen before?
Yes, we have, though only in cameo appearances until now. Sonic the Hedgehog appears notably in Wreck-It Ralph, making public service announcements to remind other video game characters about the need for safety, especially when stepping outside of their own games. He is a social creature and enjoys visiting with people; he is a good friend of Fix-It Felix Jr.
Sonic returns in the sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet, to explain the connection between Wi-Fi and the internet to the overwhelmed Ralph, as well as share in a Book Club meeting. Sonic also appears, more briefly, as a character avatar in Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One. The all-new Sonic the Hedgehog features the first big-screen starring role for the beloved hero.
What's the story?
The film tells the story of the world’s speediest hedgehog as he embraces his new home on Earth. In this live-action adventure comedy, Sonic and his new best friend Tom (James Marsden) team up to defend the planet from the evil genius Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) and his plans for world domination. The family-friendly film also stars Tika Sumpter and Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic.
Where have I seen the human stars before?
James Marsden is known for his role as superpowered Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops, in the X-Men movies, and he's also appeared in fun flicks like Zoolander, Enchanted and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, which also featured Jim Carrey. Known for his 90s comic blockbusters, Carrey has more recently starred as an outrageous villain in Kick-Ass 2 and the lovable Lloyd in Dumb and Dumber To. Tika Sumpter has enjoyed success on TV's The Haves and Have Nots and Mixed-ish, while voice artist Ben Schwartz has distinguished himself in live-action roles, including Night School, alongside Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish.
Who directed?
Jeff Fowler. He has been working with Tim Miller for years at Blur Studios; they cowrote (and Fowler directed) the animated short Gopher Broke in 2004, which was nominated for an Academy Award. Miller came on board to lead the development of the project and serves as an executive producer. Josh Miller and Patrick Casey wrote for the film.
Watch the newest trailer below.
When can we see it?
Sonic the Hedgehog will unleash his power in theaters nationwide on February 14. Get tickets now!
