Sonic the Hedgehog 3director Jeff Fowler has explained honoring Shadow’s game story in the movie, teasing what elements to expect in the film.Sonic the Hedgehog 2endedwith Shadow’s introduction, while the first trailer for the upcoming film revealed he’ll be voiced by Keanu Reeves (John Wick). The trailer also hinted at elements of his game story, including his ability to use Chaos Control, his motorcycle, and his relationship with Maria (Alyla Browne). These glimpses hint at how accurate the source material the Ultimate Lifeform is going to be.
Speaking withEntertainment Weekly, Fowler addressed the challenge of using the games, comics, and other material inSonic the Hedgehog 3to craft an experience worthy of the franchise. In terms of Shadow specifically, the director acknowledged his association with guns and motorcycles in the games, explaining how the movie would approach it in a family film. He also teased the hedgehog’s story with Maria, hopeful fans of the franchise will appreciate how it’s handled. Check out what Fowler had to say below:
That’s the challenge of these films.It’s always to take what has come before in terms of the video games and the comics and all that. How do we take the essence of what the fans love and merge it with this movie treatment that we created?
We certainly are very respectful about what fans expect to see and what they love about the character. We’re also very aware of the times and the right way to handle that kind of imagery in a family film. I think we really ended in a great place. I think fans will watch this film and really appreciate Shadow and Maria. A lot of care and a lot of love has gone into telling Shadow’s story and giving fans the best movie version of the character imaginable.
What Fowler’s Statement Means For Shadow In Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Shadow’s Backstory Will Be Similar To The Games
Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s storyis already proving itself to be loyal to the source material, with Shadow sporting a motorcycle and a tragic backstory involving Maria. However, while it seems she’ll die just like inSonic Adventure 2, her death seems like it will be different from the games. While the original sees her get shot by G.U.N. agents, the movie shows the Ultimate Lifeform and Gerald Robotnik (Jim Carrey) kneeling over her body on what appears to be Earth. This means some elements might be altered that still end with the same impact the games had.
However, whileShadow’s connection to Mariaand his motorcycle are confirmed to appear in the film, his use of firearms hasn’t been confirmed yet. This was first established in the 2005 spinoff gameShadow the Hedgehog, which received mixed reviews, in part because of the concept of its titular character using guns. However, since Fowler himself worked on the game’s CGI movie production, there’s bound to be a nod to this part of his character, even if it’s brief.
Shadow has been the main playable character in two mainlineSonic the Hedgehoggames so far,Shadow the Hedgehogin 2005 andShadow Generationsin 2024.
Our Take On How Sonic 3 Will Tackle Shadow’s Story
Despite Some Remixing, The Story Will Maintain Accuracy
Although it’s clearSonic the Hedgehog 3will be remixing some parts of Shadow’s stoyline, Fowler’s statement also clarifies the series will be maintaining loyalty to the themes surrounding his backstory. While it would make sense for his use of guns to be avoided, it’s also possible the film will find a creative way to employ them without compromising itself as a family feature. With plenty of surprises likely in store, it seems there’s still much the movie will leave a secret until it arrives in theaters.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Cast
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 reunites Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails as they face a formidable new adversary, Shadow. With Shadow’s unprecedented powers posing a significant threat, Team Sonic seeks an unexpected alliance to thwart his plans and safeguard the planet.
