| For other uses, see Sonic the Hedgehog (disambiguation). |
- "He's just a silly little alien; he didn't belong here!"
"That 'little alien' knew more about being human than you ever will. His name was Sonic, this was his home, and he was my friend." - ―Ivo Robotnik and Tom Wachowski
Sonic the Hedgehog[n 1] is a 2020 action-adventure comedy film based on the video game series of the same name. It is the first film and installment in the Sonic the Hedgehog Cinematic Universe. It was released in the United States on February 14, 2020.
The film was directed by Jeff Fowler, and stars James Marsden as Tom Wachowski, Ben Schwartz as Sonic the Hedgehog, Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski and Jim Carrey as Ivo Robotnik.
The film spawned three sequels: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in 2022, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in 2024, and Sonic the Hedgehog 4 to release in 2027.
Synopsis[]
Based on the global blockbuster videogame franchise from Sega, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 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.[1][2]
Plot[]
Longclaw guides a young Sonic the Hedgehog to Earth
Sonic the Hedgehog recalls his early life on his home planet in a monologue; born with the power of super speed, Sonic was raised on an expansive tropical island by an Owl named Longclaw, who died rescuing him from a horde of violent Echidna warriors. He fled to Earth through a portal formed by a ring, given a bag of them to use when in danger as well as a map depicting safe worlds. Over the course of ten years, Sonic deduces that the Mushroom Planet is his singular safe haven.
Tom Wachowski unaware of Sonic's antics
Tom Wachowski, Green Hills, Montana's local sheriff, stations his police car at what he calls the "speed trap," beside the town's welcome sign, waiting to give speeding tickets and passing the time by calling with his friend and fellow officer Wade Whipple at the station. Bored, Tom points his radar gun at a turtle before Sonic speeds past, registering an impossible number. Investigating, Wachowski discovers one of Sonic's glowing quills. He is called in by Whipple for a local trouble as Sonic saves the turtle from being run over, carrying it on a joyride before releasing it, dazed, in the woods.
In his hideout, Sonic reflects on his years in Green Hills. Though he secretly interacts with the townsfolk, none know of his existence save for "Crazy Carl," who terms him the "Blue Devil" in their many encounters. Sonic favors the Wachowski family: Tom, nicknamed the "Donut Lord" after his frequent talks with a puppetized donut, and his wife Maddie, the "Pretzel Lady" after her flexibility. He admires them from afar but laments his loneliness, realizing that the relationships he imagines are one-sided.
At night, Tom returns home to a letter from the San Francisco Police Department stating they await his background check, confirming the application he had sent to prove himself as an officer, something which he struggled with in a country town void of crime. Maddie gives him a cake in celebration, one of two she had purchased in the case that he was rejected. She jokingly claims she never had a doubt, to which Tom embraces her.
Sonic erupts a blast of Chaos Energy waves
Sonic witnesses a group of children playing baseball the next day, striking his interest. Later that night, he returns to the field, using his speed to play the sport on his own. Winning against himself, he expects support and applause, only to find no one around him. In deep anguish, he runs the entire field diamond constantly at increasing speeds, eventually erupting a massive electromagnetic burst of energy that knocks out power across the entire Pacific Northwest region.
Ivo Robotnik confronts Tom
The United States Armed Forces respond by deploying esteemed genius Doctor Ivo Robotnik. Using an army of advanced drones to scan the area, Robotnik identifies Sonic's alien footprint. Panicked, Sonic hides in Tom's shed, preparing to make his escape, but he is discovered by Tom, who tranquilizes him in shock. Spotting Tom's San Francisco shirt, Sonic accidentally drops a ring and loses his bag of rings through the portal. It lands atop the Transamerica Pyramid. Captured in a cage, Sonic pleads for Tom's help. Robotnik soon arrives, nearly killing Tom with a drone before Sonic saves him. The two escape, leaving Robotnik unconscious, later revived by his assistant Stone. Now in possession of Sonic's quill, Robotnik schemes to harness its energy.
Sonic using his abilities to win a bar fight
In a reluctant team-up, Tom and Sonic begin a road trip to San Francisco. Along the way, Tom stops across the Piston Pit, a biker bar, to phone Whipple. It was Robotnik who picks up and starts a tracking process after threatening Tom. Tom later finds Sonic horsing around in the bar and is swayed into completing a bucket list Sonic aims to complete before his departure. After Sonic accidentally triggers a bar fight, the two leave toward a motel. Tom learns through a news segment that he is wanted on terrorism charges. Stone and Robotnik's crew interview the bar patrons, one of them refusing to speak. Robotnik throws him through a window after mocking him.
On the road again, Tom reveals his plans to work for the SFPD, which angers Sonic, who views it as a betrayal of his town. Having tracked the duo, Robotnik controls a Badnik meant to chase hostiles from his work station. A harpoon is shot from it into the dash of their truck. The two change positions from driver to passenger as they combat the machine, Sonic curling into a concussive supercharged ball to thwart it. It continually reveals smaller internal forms that allow it to keep hunting them. They eventually destroy its smallest form, but a sticky bomb attaches to Sonic's hand. It detonates and knocks him unconscious.
Sonic is chased by Ivo Robotnik
Tom rushes the weakened Sonic to Maddie at her sister Rachel's house in San Francisco. Despite Rachel's protests, tied against a chair as a result, Maddie revives Sonic, and her daughter Jojo gifts him new PUMA sneakers to replace his damaged pair. Maddie joins Sonic and Tom in infiltrating the Transamerica Building and recovering the bag of rings. After saying his final goodbyes, Robotnik ambushes the group in the Egg-Pod, a hovercraft powered by Sonic's quill. Sonic pushes the Wachowskis off the building in a last resort, attempting to grab a ring as he chases them down the building when blown away, Robotnik pursuing Sonic at hyperspeed. Sonic saves Tom and Maddie by warping them back to Green Hills and uses his rings to try and escape Robotnik in a chase spanning the globe.
Sonic defeats Ivo Robotnik
The pursuit culminates in the middle of Green Hills. Onlookers gasp as a beaten Sonic plummets upon the road, Tom, Maddie, and their friends up in arms against Robotnik. The doctor fails to understand the people's affection towards the "alien," Tom asserting Sonic as more human in comparison to him, and his friend. Sonic awakens and channels his energy, repeatedly bombarding him with attacks in ball form. Taking note of the damaged Egg-Pod, Sonic calls for the "Donut Lord" to throw a ring behind it. The ring opens to the Mushroom Planet. Sonic crashes into the front of the pod, destroying it and sending it backwards through the ring with Robotnik inside.
Tom and Maddie embrace Sonic, who they now welcome into their home. While the couple are completing home repairs, Commander and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Walters, the man who originally sent Robotnik to investigate the energy surge, debriefs them, giving them a $50 Olive Garden gift card as a token of appreciation from the government. He attempts to catch a glimpse of Sonic as Tom shuts the door. The three go upstairs, with Tom and Maddie revealing to Sonic a recreation of his old hideout in their attic.
Doctor "Eggman" vows his return from Mushroom Planet to Earth
Doctor Robotnik, having been stranded on the Mushroom Planet for 87 days, begins to plot his way home as his state of mind deteriorates. He drags along an inanimate companion he likens to Stone as he begins to exact his return. From a distant planet, a two-tailed Fox by the name of Miles "Tails" Prower arrives through a ring after tracking Sonic to Earth. Hoping he isn't too late, Tails uses his twin tails to fly and search for him.
Cast[]
- Ben Schwartz as Sonic the Hedgehog (voice)
- Benjamin Valic as Young Sonic the Hedgehog (voice)
- James Marsden as Tom Wachowski
- Jim Carrey as Ivo Robotnik
- Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski
- Natasha Rothwell as Rachel
- Adam Pally as Wade Whipple
- Lee Majdoub as Stone
- Neal McDonough as Bennington
- Tom Butler as Walters
- Frank C. Turner as Carl
- Melody Nosipho Niemann as Jojo
- Brad Kelly as Roadhouse Thug
- Elfina Luk as Secretary of Homeland Security
- Garry Chalk as Navy Chief of Staff
- Michael Hogan as Air Force Chief of Staff
- Peter Bryant as Army Chief of Staff
- Chris Gailus as KDPD6 Anchor
- Terence Kelly as Zimmer
- Donna Jay Fulks as Longclaw (voice)
- Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Miles "Tails" Prower (voice; mid-credits scene)
Appearances[]
Locations[]
- Mobius
- Earth
- North America
- Asia
- China
- Pakistan (mentioned)
- Russia (mentioned; deleted scene)
- Africa
- Barbados (mentioned)
- Azerbaijan (indirectly mentioned)
- Azerbaijanistan (mentioned)
- Moon (deleted scene)
- Mushroom Planet
Events[]
- Attack on Longclaw's Home
- Green Hills Energy Surge
- Hunt for Sonic the Hedgehog
- Coup in Pakistan (mentioned)
- Uprising in Azerbaijanistan (mentioned)
- American Civil War (mentioned)
Items[]
- Agent Stone
- Rings
- The Flash
- Sonic's PUMAs
- Safe Worlds Map
- Sergeant Sprinkles
- Doctor Eggman's Suit
- Badniks
- Master Emerald (drawing)
- Miles Electric (mid-credits scene)
Vehicles[]
Sentient Species[]
Creatures[]
- Turtles
- Dogs
- Bears (mentioned)
- Raccoons
- Monkeys (mentioned)
- Tyrannosauruses (hologram)
- Goats (mentioned)
Organizations[]
- Amazon (mentioned)
- Echidna
- Green Hills Sheriff's Department
- San Francisco Police Department (mentioned)
- Green Hills Baseball Team
- Spring Valley Baseball Team
- United States Department of Defense
- CIA (mentioned)
- FBI (mentioned)
- KDPD6
Mentioned[]
- A. Burdett
- Rihanna
- Donald Duck
- Daisy Duck
- Daffy Duck
- MacBook
- Olive Garden
- Charlotte's Web
- Speed (footage)
- The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (footage)
- Zillow
- Star Wars
- Men in Black
- Vin Diesel
- Dwayne Johnson
Production[]
In 2013, Sony Pictures Entertainment acquired the rights to produce and distribute a film based on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.[3]
On June 10, 2014, a live-action animated hybrid film was announced as a joint venture between Columbia Pictures and Marza Animation Planet.[4]
On February 9, 2016, in an interview with The Worldfolio, Sega CEO Hajime Satomi said the film was scheduled for a 2018 release.[5][6] Tim Miller and Jeff Fowler were revealed to be developing the film.[7]
On October 27, 2017, Paramount Pictures acquired the rights to the film from Sony Pictures Entertainment in turnaround.[8]
By February 2018, the film was settled for a November 2019 release.[9]
In May 2018, Paul Rudd was reported to be in talks to play the lead role of the film, Tom Wachowski, despite Paramount Pictures' denial.[10] James Marsden's casting in Rudd's supposed role was announced the next day on May 31, 2018.[11]
On June 7, 2018, Tika Sumpter was cast as Tom's wife Maddie Wachowski,[12] Jim Carrey landing the role of Doctor Robotnik on the 29th.[13]
In August 2018, Ben Schwartz was cast as the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog, with Adam Pally as Wade Whipple and Neal McDonough as Bennington.[14][15]
Principal photography began in mid-September 2018 and ended in Vancouver, Ladysmith, and Vancouver Island on October 16, 2018.[16]
In November 2018, Debs Howard and Elfina Luk joined the cast as New Girlfriend and Secretary of Homeland Security respectively.[17]
On May 2, 2019, Fowler announced that Sonic the Hedgehog's design would be altered in response to heavy criticism, and thus delayed the film from its November 8, 2019 release date to February 14, 2020.[18][19]
Videos[]
Trailers[]
TV Spots[]
Featurettes[]
Other[]
Music[]
| Song title | Artist | Location(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Gangsta's Paradise | Coolio |
|
| Supersonic | J. J. Fad |
|
| Blitzkreig Bop | Ramones |
|
| Friends | Hyper Potions | |
| Don't Stop Me Now | Queen |
|
| Ride of the Valkyries | Richard Wagner |
|
| All Fired Up | The Lazys |
|
| White Lightning | Tennessee River Crooks | |
| Bad News | Ghost Hounds | |
| I'm Turnin' 'Em Up | Wyley Randall | |
| Love in the City | John Christopher Stokes | |
| Boom | X Ambassadors |
|
| Where Evil Grows | The Poppy Family | |
| Catch Me I'm Falling | Kelly Finnigan | |
| Green Hill Zone | Jon Batiste | |
| Speed Me Up | Wiz Khalifa, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Yachty, and Sueco the Child |
|
Notes[]
- ↑ Titled Sonic the Movie (ソニック・ザ・ムービー, Sonikku za Mūbī) in Japan.
References[]
- ↑ 'Sonic the Hedgehog' Plot Summary - Paramount Pictures - IMDb
- ↑ Sonic The Hedgehog (2020) - New Official Trailer - Paramount Pictures
- ↑ Live-Action Sonic The Hedgehog Movie Is Speeding Into Development
- ↑ ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Movie in the Works at Sony
- ↑ Sega’s new era in entertainment
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog movie confirmed for 2018, will be 'a live-action and animation hybrid'
- ↑ ‘Deadpool’ Director Shifts to Sony’s ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Movie (Exclusive)
- ↑ ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Movie Races to Paramount (Exclusive)
- ↑ Sonic the Hedgehog film dated for November 2019 (update)
- ↑ Paul Rudd Eyed For Lead Role In Sonic the Hedgehog Film [Updated]
- ↑ James Marsden to Star in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Movie (EXCLUSIVE)
- ↑ Tika Sumpter Lands Female Lead in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Movie (EXCLUSIVE)
- ↑ Jim Carrey To Play ‘Sonic The Hedgehog’ Villain Robotnik
- ↑ Ben Schwartz to Voice ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ in Upcoming Movie (EXCLUSIVE)
- ↑ Two MCU Actors Just Joined The Sonic The Hedgehog Movie
- ↑ Paramount budgets $7M for Sonic the Hedgehog movie shoot in ‘hero town’ Ladysmith
- ↑ 2019 #SonicMovie - New Filming Spotted in #SanFrancisco! 2 New Actresses Confirmed!
- ↑ Jeff Fowler on Twitter - May 2, 2019
- ↑ The new Sonic movie trailer shows off the blue blur's new design
