A new filming update for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 indicates the movie won’t be delayed and will seemingly arrive on the planned schedule. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has a release date of December 20, 2024, but it’s unclear if this could be delayed due to the ongoing writers’ strike. Although Paramount instantly greenlit another Sonic the Hedgehog sequel, details about its development have been limited.
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According to a new update from Production List, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will start filming in London on August 31, 2023. This indicates Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is still on track to come out in December 2024 and won’t face any major delays. While it’s possible the film could shift release dates due to the writers’ strike, the film’s production start date signals this likely won’t be the case.

What To Expect From Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is expected to introduce Shadow the Hedgehog to the live-action movie series. The post-credits scene of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 saw G.U.N soldiers discover secret archives for Project Shadow and introduced the character’s live-action version in the last scene. Shadow’s backstory in the video games is tied to Dr. Eggman’s grandfather, Gerald Robotnik, who created Shadow in an attempt to cure his granddaughter, Maria, of a deadly illness.

The introduction of Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 marks a break in tradition for how the Sonic the Hedgehog movies correlate with the video game series. Sonic the Hedgehog introduced Sonic as the only non-human character, while Sonic the Hedgehog 2 pulled from the second and third games, alongside Sonic & Knuckles, to tell its story. If the movies continue this pattern, the next installment likely would have been Sonic CD or Sonic Adventure. Instead, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will likely pull heavily from Sonic Adventure 2, meaning plenty of unexpected events could happen.

Shadow’s appearance as Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s villain could also mark a darker turn for the family-friendly, comedic film series. The backstory for Shadow in the games is heavily rooted in the tragic loss of Maria, with her death being a key component of Shadow’s character arc. Portraying the event in a PG-rated movie will require tact but will also necessitate a darker tone for the film. It should prove interesting how Sonic the Hedgehog 3 introduces Shadow and whether the film will still come out in December 2024.

Source: Production List