Paramount Pictures has announced a new Sonic the Hedgehog movie, set for release on December 22, 2028. This untitled project is officially described as a Sonic Universe Event Film, and it is a separate movie from the already-scheduled Sonic the Hedgehog 4. The news confirms the studio is looking to significantly expand its popular film series based on the SEGA video game franchise.
Details Of The New Sonic The Hedgehog Movie
The upcoming film is listed on Paramount’s schedule as an untitled Sonic Universe Event Film. It has a confirmed theatrical release date of December 22, 2028. The movie will be produced by Neal H. Moritz through his Original Film banner, the same producer behind the first three successful Sonic films. SEGA Sammy Group is also involved in the production.
It is important to note this is a different project from the next main series installment. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is scheduled to arrive much earlier, on March 19, 2027. This means fans will get the fourth main movie in 2027, followed by this new universe-expanding film in late 2028.
How The Sonic Movie Series Has Grown
The decision to plan another film comes after the live-action Sonic series proved to be a major box office success for Paramount. The trilogy, consisting of the 2020, 2022, and 2024 films, has collectively earned over $1.2 billion worldwide. Each film performed better than the last, with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 earning about $492 million globally.
The franchise has already successfully branched out beyond movies. In 2024, Paramount+ released the Knuckles television series, focusing on the echidna warrior voiced by Idris Elba. The show was a major hit for the streaming service, becoming its number one Kids & Family title and racking up over 11 million viewing hours in its first month. The announcement of a new “Universe Event Film” suggests Paramount is looking to create more of these character-focused stories, potentially on the big screen instead of television.
Fan Speculation On The Movie’s Focus
With the film simply called a “Sonic Universe Event Film,” Paramount has not revealed which character or story the 2028 movie will focus on. However, widespread speculation among fans and entertainment reports points to one likely candidate: Shadow the Hedgehog.
Shadow, voiced by Keanu Reeves, was introduced as a major character in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. His debut was well-received, and the film’s ending left the antihero in a position that closely matches the setup for his own solo video game from 2005. Many believe a solo movie for Reeves’ Shadow is a logical next step. As one analysis noted, giving Shadow his own film would solve the problem of having too many characters to juggle in the main series sequels.
Other potential ideas for the spinoff include a film centered on Tails, whose backstory was only briefly mentioned in the movies, or it could follow up on stories from the Knuckles TV series. For now, Paramount is keeping all details secret, likely to keep the focus on the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 4 first.
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The Successful Path Of The Film Series
The Sonic film series has become one of the most reliable video game adaptations in Hollywood. After a much-publicized early redesign of Sonic’s look, the first movie was both a critical and commercial hit. The series has only grown from there, with the third film earning the best reviews of the trilogy. On the review site Rotten Tomatoes, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 holds an 86% critic score and a 95% audience score.
Producer Toby Ascher previously described the main Sonic films as “Avengers-level events,” suggesting a plan for a large, connected universe of stories. The announcement of a “Sonic Universe Event Film” for 2028 is the next step in making that plan a reality.
Paramount also announced another major film for 2028: a new live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie set for November 17, 2028. Neal H. Moritz is attached to produce that film as well.
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