Sonic the Hedgehog 3[b] is a 2024 action-adventure comedy film based on the video game series published by Sega. It was directed by Jeff Fowler and written by Pat Casey, Josh Miller, and John Whittington, based on a story by Casey and Miller. Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, and Idris Elba reprise their roles, with Krysten Ritter and Keanu Reeves joining the cast. In the film, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles ally with Dr. Robotnik to defeat a new enemy, Shadow the Hedgehog.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was announced in February 2022 during ViacomCBS’s investor event before the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022). Due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, filming for animated characters began in July 2023 in Surrey, England, and filming with actors began that November in London, with production concluding by March 2024. The film draws inspiration from the video games Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) and Shadow the Hedgehog (2005). Reeves was cast due to the parallels between his performance in the John Wick films and Fowler’s vision for Shadow.

At the request of the military organization G.U.N., Sonic, Tails and Knuckles are tasked with stopping Shadow the Hedgehog, a former military experiment that has escaped containment. Unable to defeat him, they form an unlikely alliance with Dr. Robotnik in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet. The matter is complicated when Robotnik is reunited with his long-lost grandfather, Gerald Robotnik, who has his own sinister plans.[7] Ben Schwartz as Sonic the Hedgehog: An anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who can run at supersonic speeds, and the leader of Team Sonic.[8]
Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Miles “Tails” Prower: An intelligent anthropomorphic yellow-orange fox who can fly with his twin-tails.[8]
Idris Elba as Knuckles the Echidna: A hot-headed and serious anthropomorphic red echidna warrior with super strength.[8]

Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog: An anthropomorphic red-striped black hedgehog created from a secret government program called Project Shadow.[9] He can teleport and has extreme strength.[10] He has lived through tragedy and seeks revenge.[11] Fowler said once they first met, he realized Reeves “very clearly had gone and done his homework”, and that he desired to create a “fan-faithful” rendition of the character.[12]