With the recentSonic the Hedgehoglive-action adaptation quickly becoming the most successful video game movie of all time, it goes without saying that a sequel is coming. That’s far from a bad thing either. While the film undeniably had a troubled production - including anentire rework of the blue blur’s character design- it went on to be fairly well-received by audiences, with many appreciating the attention to detail and entertaining script behind Sonic’s first big-screen appearance.
However, the question now turns to where the inevitableSonic The Hedgehog 2will go. The film teases several massive plotlines that could be addressed in a sequel, including the introduction of major characters, plotlines from the games, and more. With the movie working as something of an introduction to a new interpretation ofSonic’suniverse, it makes sense that future sequels will begin to incorporate more of the tried and tested lore that features heavily in the games. With that in mind, it’s worth exploring where Sonic’s next big adventure could take him. Be aware that there will be heavy spoilers for theSonic the Hedgehogmovie ahead.
The Introduction Of Tails
Getting the obvious out of the way first, the biggest hint towards the direction of aSonic the Hedgehogsequel comes during the credits. As is now the tradition for most big blockbuster films, the blue blur’s cinematic debut has a tantalizing after-credits sequence, where a new character emerges on a seemingly crucial mission. This character is, of course, Sonic’s long-time best friend and series mainstayTails, who appears through one of the teleporting rings given to Sonic by his owl mentor Longclaw during the film’s opening moments. The iconic character then shows that he’s seemingly been tracking his future best friend to earth, claiming “I just hope I’m not too late,” before flying into the distance using his signature twin tales as a propeller.
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This has a number of ramifications on whereSonic the Hedgehog2will go, especially as Tails is a core part of Sonic’s video game outings and seemingly a strong launch off point to bring in some of the wackier characters from the game. No doubt the pair’s budding friendship will be a massive part of a supposed sequel, however, it also seems as though Tails will have a bigger part to play than just assuming his role as Sonic’s sidekick. Not only have some speculated that his use of the teleporting rings means that, much like Sonic, he too wasraised by Longclaw, but the fact he’s tracking the blue blur to seemingly aid in battling some forthcoming doom means he’ll be integral to the story to come. Regardless, it’s practically confirmed that Tails will be a huge part of the sequel.
A More Traditional Dr. Robotnik Returns To Earth
The second big plotline set up in the original movie comes during its final moments. After the audience sees Sonic settle into his brand new home, the film cuts away to show what the hero’s arch-nemesis, Dr. Robotnik, is getting up to in his exile on the seemingly inhospitable mushroom planet. As it turns out, the antagonist has become far more unhinged than ever before during his elongated time away, shaving his head and growing an instantly recognizable comical mustache. Naturally, it seemsJim Carrey’s version of the characterhas finally fully embraced the outlandish appearance and crazed mental state of his iconic video game counterpart, and due to still possessing one of Sonic’s superpowered quills, he will no doubt be back with an utterly crazy scheme befitting of his reputation.
The end of Eggman’s scene sees him vow to return to earth, no doubt with a crazy scheme to finally kill Sonic and his allies. What this could be is yet to be seen, however, it seems as though he’ll definitely return in the sequel to wreak all sorts of havoc. Some have even suggested he might create the character’s iconic space station known as the Death Egg, aligning the plot with that ofSonic the Hedgehog 2on the Genesis. However, it seems more likely that the character will use his knowledge of Sonic to create a new main antagonist…
The Debut of Metal Sonic
The moment Dr. Robotnik utilized the power of Sonic’s quill to energize his Eggmobile towards the tail-end of theSonic the Hedgehogmovie, fans' minds immediately jumped to one character. Metal Sonic. The villain first introduced in 1993’sSonic CDhas since become one of the most prevalent in the franchise, and would no doubt make for an imposing adversary for the blue blur to go toe to toe with in an action-packed sequel. The theory is that Eggman, the original creator of Metal Sonic in the games, would use the quill he preserved from his time on Earth to craft this fearsome doppelganger in the sequel, with the crazed scientist bringing him back to earth to finally eradicate his speedy arch-nemesis.
The clashes between Sonic and his metallic rival have gone down as some of the most revered in the entire series, and there’s no denying that they could make for some striking eye candy if put to screen. With the film establishing that Sonic’s powers are incredibly strong, he needs a foe that can push him to his extremes, and there’s few out there that can rival Sonic as much as this mechanized clone. Although the franchise does have a few more villains that could fill the antagonist role with ease, few feel as custom fit forthe story that theSonic the Hedgehogmovieis telling as Metal Sonic.
Knuckles Vs Sonic
If the plan isn’t for Sonic to face off against his iconic metal doppelganger, perhaps theSonic the Hedgehogsequel should look into pitting Sonic against an even more recognizable face. As many will no doubt know, Sonic’s live-action debut does tease the existence of another of the video game icon’s strongest allies; Knuckles the Echidna. The popular Sonic sidekick is no doubt bound for the film franchise at some point, with thefilm’s director confirming that the tribalistic species at the beginning of the film are indeed Echidnas. Yet, as many new Sonic fans might not know, the character wasn’t always a hero.
During the events ofSonic the Hedgehog 3and a number of later games,Knuckleswas tricked into aiding Eggman and his nefarious schemes. He’s had a number of explosive clashes with Sonic due to this, so perhaps a strong direction for the sequel would be pitting the two iconic characters against each other before seeing them team up at the climax of the story. Not only would it introduce one of the franchise’s best characters, but it would also make sense why Tails is coming to save Sonic in the after-credits sequence. Perhaps the Echidnas that originally attacked Longclaw and Sonic have located the Blue Blur on Earth and intend to finish the job, sending Knuckles on a mission to find and destroy his future ally.
The Chaos Emeralds As The Focus
AlthoughSonic the Hedgehogdid see a lot of traditional lore make the jump from the games, one element that was noticeably omitted was the presence of the Chaos Emeralds. The seven gemstones are a staple of Sonic’s history, often being hunted down by the franchise’s antagonists due to their incredible power and ability to warp time and space. Essentially, they act like Marvel’s Infinity Stones, embuing the possessor of all seven gems with godlike powers. According to the film’s director, the plan originally was toinclude the Chaos Emeralds inSonic the Hedgehog, however, the team decided against bloating the plot with their detailed mythos.
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Now that Sonic, Eggman, and the film’s world have been established, it makes sense to add some of the more integral aspects of the game’s lore on top of its basic foundations and the Chaos Emeralds are the perfect place to start. Perhaps Dr. Robotnik discovers a Chaos Emerald on the Mushroom Planet, using it to get back to Earth with the goal of reuniting the other six gems and becoming an all-powerful deity. Not only would it begin to establish the more cosmic elements of Sonic’s world, but it could also allow for fans to get their first look at a live-actionSuper Sonic. Seen as the hero’s ability to transform into a more powerful form was teased in his final showdown with Eggman, maybe a sequel could see him use the Chaos Emeralds to take on his godlike golden form for the first time.
Shadow Makes An Appearance
While Knuckles, Eggman, or Metal Sonic are all fantastic choices for the lead antagonist spot of a supposedSonic the Hedgehog 2, there’s no denying that fans would kill to see Shadow the Hedgehog make his way to the big screen. Debuting inSonic Adventure 2,Shadow is often seen as Sonic’s true equal, possessing the same speed, power, and abilities as Sega’s iconic mascot. The difference is that Shadow is an anti-hero, often picking his allegiance based on what benefits him more in any given situation.
Although his storyline might fit more neatly in a sequel further down the line,Shadow would be a massive draw to fansif included in a potentialSonic the Hedgehogfollowup. Whether he slots in as the main antagonist - perhaps working alongside Eggman to collect all the Chaos Emeralds - or, more likely, appears in a post-credits scene at the tail-end of the film, Shadow could be a fantastic addition that proves the minds behind Sonic’s live-action adaptation know what the fans want. Although he’d likely be better saved to go up against a more experienced rendition of Sonic who knows the power of the Chaos Emeralds, setting up a future face-off between Sega’s blue mascot and his anti-hero rival would be a huge crowd-pleasing moment.
