Sonic The Hedgehog Movie Casts Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik

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In 1991, the popular video game Sonic the Hedgehog was released on Sega Genesis. The game was a runaway success, and was the first of over a dozen titles featuring the Sonic character. Sonic, an anthropomorphic hedgehog who could run at (obviously) sonic speeds, became one of the most iconic video game characters of all time, and was largely responsible for Sega’s success during the 1990s. The character’s popularity eventually led to two animated series in 1993, Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog.
Considering Hollywood’s continued interest in established characters, it should come as no surprise that Sony has announced plans to develop a hybrid live-action/CGI Sonic the Hedgehog movie. The film was confirmed to be in development a few months ago with Sony targeting a 2018 release date. Now, we have more news regarding who will be directing the picture, and what creative minds will be behind Sonic’s first solo film adaptation.
THR is reporting that Tim Miller, who directed the R-rated breakout hit Deadpool, will be executive producing Sonic the Hedgehog, while longtime Miller collaborator Jeff Fowler will direct. The film will be written by Golan the Insatiable creators Patrick Casey and Josh Miller.
Tim Miller on the set of Deadpool





Tim Miller recently found himself with some extra time on his hands, which likely freed him up to work on Sonic the Hedgehog. While never officially confirmed as returning to direct Deadpool 2, it was believed by many that Miller would rejoin with star, Ryan Reynolds, in an attempt to replicate the unprecedented success of the first film. However, citing creative differences, Miller departed the sequel, and has wasted no time finding a new project.
Though he will not be serving as Sonic the Hedgehog’s director, the film seems like a natural fit for a filmmaker who, prior to Deadpool, had primarily operated as a visual effects specialist. Together, Miller and Fowler won best animated short at the 2005 Academy Awards for the animated animal tale, Gopher Broke.
Fowler, who will make his feature directorial debut, has Miller’s stamp of approval, with the latter stating:

“Jeff is an incredible director with strong story instincts. The world of Sonic presents the perfect opportunity for him to leverage his experience in animation to bring new dimension to this iconic character.”
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There is little information regarding the plot of Sonic the Hedgehog, but it will likely feature Sonic and his friends Tails and Knuckles, as they try to foil whatever nefarious plan Doctor Robotnik has set in motion. Doctor Robotnik, who has been Sonic’s main antagonist, often attempts to turn helpless animals into robots he can control. Sony is no doubt hoping that they can launch a new hit franchise with Sonic, who has developed a large fan base from his appearances in a variety of video games and animated properties.
We’ll bring you more information on the Sonic the Hedgehog movie as it becomes available.
Source: THR

 

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[h=1]Sonic The Hedgehog Movie Actor Shortlist Reportedly RevealedSeveral big name actors - Jack Black among them - are reportedly circling the human lead role in Paramount's live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie. The Sonic the Hedgehog video game character was created in 1991 and has since appeared in several cartoon TV series, but has yet to make the jump to the big screen in either live-action or animated form. Of course, that might have been for the best; video game movies have a notoriously poor track record in terms of quality and have only really begun to improve their reputation this year, thanks to the Tomb Raider reboot and Dwayne Johnson's Rampage.[/h]Sonic the Hedgehog, which was set up at Sony before it moved to Paramount last year, features Deadpool helmer Tim Miller in its corner as a producer and is being directed by Jeff Fowler; the filmmaker behind the Oscar-nominated animated short Gopher Broke, who is making his feature debut here. There's a lot that remains unknown about the movie for the time being, including what it's even about and whether an A-lister will be voicing Sonic (a la how Ryan Reynolds is voicing the titular Detective Pikachu in next year's live-action film). However, it appears that Paramount is courting some well-known comedic talent to play Sonic's human partner here.


According to THS, the Sonic the Hedgehog human lead actor shortlist currently includes Black, as well as Jason Segel, Owen Wilson, and Ed Helms. All four stars are being considered for the role of Tom, a "sarcastic" human highway patrol cop who teams up with Sonic in the film to save the day, presumably by battling Sonic's classic arch-nemesis Dr. Robotnik. Following up on their scoop from yesterday, THS is reporting that Paul Rudd is no longer in the running to play Tom, though it appears that the Ant-Man actor was either being considered and/or circling the role at some point.



Plot details aside, Sonic the Hedgehog is gearing up to start production on July 30th in Vancouver - in order to hit its current Fall 2019 release target - and will cost around $90 million to make overall. While part of that budget will (naturally) be allocated to bringing Sonic and the movie's other fantasy characters to life in a flesh and blood world, part of it will also go towards covering the salary of Sonic's big-name costar in the film. THS's report doesn't indicated that there's a front-runner among the actors on the shortlist to play Tom at the moment, but that should change in the near future.

Kid-targeted IPs like Sonic the Hedgehog have certainly become Black's bread and butter of late, as evidenced by his roles from such critical/commercial hits as Goosebumps andJumaji: Welcome to the Jungle. Black trading barbs with a CGI Sonic in a movie sounds entertaining enough, though the same could be said for the other actors listed here (none of whom are strangers to family-friendly fare, either). The production timeline for Sonic the Hedgehog should further work nicely with Black's schedule - since he doesn't have a major project until Jumanji 3 near the end of this year - so that's another factor that works in his favor here.

Source: THS

 

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[h=1]Sonic the Hedgehog Movie Casts Westworld's James Marsden[/h]

James Marsden joins Sonic the Hedgehog as the human lead. Paramount Pictures is moving forward with plans to bring SEGA's beloved blue hedgehog to the big screen. Originally developed by Sony Pictures back in 2014, the project moved to Paramount late last year. The move came after Deadpool's Tim Miller signed on as a producer while Jeff Fowler is set to direct. After taking a few months of development, Paramount has been moving quickly to get Sonic off the ground.
Sonic updates have been rolling in since spring of this year. The most recent updates have been centered on who would star opposite the titular Sonic as the human lead. Reports pointed to Paul Rudd being considered, but Paramount said that was false. Then, names likeJack Black and Owen Wilson surfaced, but it appears none of them were the studio's choice for the gig.



Variety reports Westworld star James Marsden is set to the play the human lead in Sonic the Hedgehog. This report did not reveal any character details for Marsden, but the earlier casting details suggest the human lead is named Tom and is described as a cop who helps Sonic on this adventure.



Marsden is a big name for Sonic to collect. He's currently one of the many stars on one of the biggest shows on television and previously had a long stint as Cyclops in the X-Menfranchise. Marsden is a recognizable face and name, and he should be able to handle both the comedic and dramatic parts of the role. While he may not be a bankable star on his own, Marsden shouldn't have to carry that burden with the Sonic movie considering the wide-spread popularity of the character. He also has a bit of history working with CGI characters thanks to 2007's Enchanted and 2011's Hop.
Securing a high-profile name like Marsden could ease the search on finding someone to voice Sonic though. Based on Marsden being the choice for Paramount, it appears they'll take the opposite approach to casting that Legendary Pictures did for Detective Pikachu. Legendary secured Ryan Reynolds to do the voice of Pikachu in the movie and surrounded him with younger, more unknown stars in the live-action roles.
While the rest of the cast for Sonic has yet to be announced, Paramount could add more stars as Doctor Robotnik and any other human roles, then go for lesser known talent for the voice. However, they could just as easily do the opposite or even cast an entire A-list cast for Sonic the Hedgehog. With a reported July filming start date, it shouldn't be too long for the rest of the cast to be revealed. Whether they get more stars or not, Marsden is a nice get to kick off the casting process.


Source: Variety

 

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[h=1]Sonic The Hedgehog Movie Casts Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik[/h]

Sonic the Hedgehog has its villain and it's none other than Jim Carrey. Paramount is moving full speed ahead with a live-action/CGI hybrid movie starring one of SEGA's biggest characters. Sonic the Hedgehog has been around for nearly thirty years, but has yet to receive a live-action take on the big screen. Paramount has not slowed down the film sincegaining the rights late last year. It's being produced by Deadpool's Tim Miller and directed by Jeff Fowler, and now the cast is starting to fill out.
James Marsden snagged the lead role in Sonic as a cop who befriends Sonic on his solo adventure. There were reportedly several other actors in the mix, but the Westworld star came out victorious. The film has since added Ride Along's Tika Sumpter as the female lead. No voice actor has been revealed yet for the leading blue hedgehog, but we now know who'll take on the role of his archenemy.



Deadline reports Jim Carrey is heading back to the big screen, and is in talks to play Dr. Ivo Robotnik aka Doctor Eggman in Sonic the Hedgehog. This will be the comedic legend's first major blockbuster in a number of years. His more recent theatrical work worth mentioning includes The Bad Batch, Dumb and Dumber To, and Kick-Ass 2. None of these films were terribly successful, so Sonic gives Carrey a role that will hopefully reach the masses, and possibly restore a bit of his old movie star sheen.



Throughout Robotnik's many appearances in various Sonic materials, his look has largely remained the same. His egg-like figure, bald head, giant mustache, and red and gold jacket help make up his trademark aesthetic. Carrey's appearance is much different than that, so this could either be quite the transformation for him to undergo, or a signal that fans of the character and property should be prepared for some alterations to be made.
Regardless of how Carrey looks while playing Doctor Eggman, it's a role that could allow his naturally goofy nature to shine - especially if he transforms his appearance to match the villain's classic look. While Carrey is much more than just a comedian at this point, that is an aspect to his career that many would like to see more of. Sonic could give him the chance to play a zany, over-the-top villain, while also giving the project a big name talent. How well it plays on the screen remains to be seen, but Paramount is certainly aiming high as they finish casting Sonic the Hedgehog.


Source: Deadline

 

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[h=1]Ben Schwartz to Voice Sonic the Hedgehog in Live-Action Movie[/h]


Ben Schwartz will provide the voice for Sonic in Sonic the Hedgehog. Paramount is bringing one of Sega's biggest characters to the big screen next year like never before. The studio iscurrently filming the live-action/CGI hybrid movie, but they've done so without announcing who will actually be playing the titular character. That wasn't a pressing issue as it is a voice only role, which shifted the studio's focus on casting the main characters.
The lead human role is going to be played by James Marsden of recent Westworld acclaim. He's playing a cop who befriends the speeding hedgehog. Marsden's already been seen filming and possibly interacting with the green-suit stand-in for Sonic. And while it's unlikely the voice actor will now take this role, Sonic officially does have a voice.



Variety reports Ben Schwartz is joining Sonic the Hedgehog as the voice of Sonic. Schwartz is no stranger to voice only roles, but this iconic role is on a new level. He's previously done voice work for DuckTales and BoJack Horseman, although most people will first associate him with his role as Jean-Ralphio on Parks and Recreation.




This is a role that Schwartz should have no trouble nailing either. He always brings a comedic sensibility and energy to his roles, which should fit in great with Sonic. There's no word on if he'll use his regular voice or if he'll make any modifications to it to help make Sonic's voice stand out. Regardless of how he sounds, Schwartz is a nice, under-the-radar choice for Sonic the Hedgehog, after already securing bigger stars for other main roles. Schwartz joins Marsden as the leads of the movie, but they're not the only ones who already joined the cast. Jim Carrey joined the film earlier to play the villain Dr. Robotnik, marking his first major blockbuster in years. There's also Tika Sumpter, who will play the female lead in the film.

Since Sonic the Hedgehog is sure to have more than four characters, additional cast members are likely to be named later on. Plus, if the movie is going to include some of Sonic's usual group of friends, who would also be CGI creations, then more voice roles could be among the parts yet to be announced. All in all, Sonic the Hedgehog looks to be coming together rather nicely for Paramount. They tapped Tim Miller's collaborator Jeff Fowler as the director, while the Deadpool filmmaker is serving as an executive producer.

Source: Variety
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[h=1]Sonic The Hedgehog Movie Delayed Three Months For Redesign[/h]






Sonic the Hedgehog gets its release date delayed by three months due to the last-minute redesign of the title character. Originally scheduled for a November 2019 premiere, fans got their first look at the movie via a teaser trailer released in late April. Unfortunately, the word-of-mouth it generated was decidedly poor, with many people ridiculing the look of CGI Sonic. The backlash was very intense, especially with audiences enjoying the faithful live-action recreations of Pokémon for Detective Pikachu.
As a result, it was surprisingly announced that Sonic would be getting a complete overhaul for the movie. While some, like Sonic's co-creator Yuji Naka, were pleased by this development, the decision to change Sonic's appearance proved to be controversial. Many were quick to point out that this put the digital artists under the gun, since the film would need to be ready for a November debut. But now, they're going to get some extra time to complete their work.


Today, Sonic the Hedgehog director Jeff Fowler took to Twitter to reveal the movie's new release date, which is February 14, 2020. Check out his post in the space below:

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As evidenced by Fowler's hashtag, the primary reasoning behind this change is to benefit the hard-working VFX team tasked with re-rendering Sonic. That obviously won't be an easy task, seeing that he is the titular character and will likely have substantial screen time. Sonic the Hedgehog was already drowning in negative press, so if the redesign was a rush job in order to meet a pre-determined release date, things could have become even more disastrous. It goes without saying that reworking Sonic's appearance isn't going to magically fix all of the other issues viewers had with the trailer, but this is at least a step in the right direction. It's good to know the studio is willing to take their time to make sure the final product looks as good as possible, particularly since they now know fans will let their displeasure be heard.


It'll be interesting to see if the release date delay helps Sonic at the box office. Initially, it was going to be in a crowded November filled with other genre pictures (Terminator: Dark Fate, Charlie's Angels, Frozen 2) and awards hopefuls (Ford v. Ferrari, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood). It stood reason to believe that Sonic might have had trouble standing out if it stuck to a fall premiere. Granted, February 2020 sees projects like Birds of Prey and a new Kingsman movie, but both of those should be geared more towards older viewers while Sonic targets families. February is typically less competitive at the box office, so hopefully Sonic is aided in more ways than one here.


Source: Jeff Fowler

 

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[h=1]Sonic Passes Detective Pikachu As Top Grossing Video Game Movie at US Box Office[/h]


After earning $145.8 million domestically, Sonic the Hedgehog has become the highest-grossing video game film in the US, passing Detective Pikachu.

• Sonic the Hedgehog has officially raced past Detective Pikachu at the domestic box office to become the highest-grossing video game adaptation in the United States. Back in February, Sonic opened to a far better-than-expected $57 million over its first three days and notched the best opening for a video game adaptation. Since then, Sonic has managed to remain a box office success. The positive response to the film is likely due to director Jeff Fowler's decision to push Sonic's release date back so the title character's design could be altered following fan backlash.
  Sonic's new box office milestone comes as the entertainment industry finds itself in disarray. The widespread outbreak of the coronavirus has led to great deal of uncertainty, leading many studios to delay upcoming releases and shut down ongoing productions. Films like Mulan, A Quiet Place Part II, F9, and No Time to Die have all seen their release dates moved, while studios like Disney and Universal have opted to halt production on future films. The overall box office results for the weekend were dismal, with the weekend total dipping to a twenty-year low.
  
  
  
  Despite all that, Sonic has managed to provide some positive news for Paramount. After earning $2.58 million for the weekend, Sonic's new domestic total stands at $145.8 million, which just barely puts it past the final domestic earnings of Detective Pikachu (via Forbes). By the end of its run, Detective Pikachu had raked in $144.1 million. When it comes to worldwide numbers, Detective Pikachu still has the upper hand, having earned $433 million compared to Sonic's $306.5 million total. However, Sonic is also working with less international territories, as its China release date was delayed due to coronavirus.
  
  
  
  
  This makes Sonic the highest-grossing video game adaptation domestically (when not adjusting for inflation). More often than not, video game-based movies struggle at the box office regardless of how popular the already-established property is. However, Detective Pikachu and Sonic have proven that if made well, video game movies can succeed and even over-perform.
  While Sonic likely won't manage to top Detective Pikachu at the worldwide box office, it can still be considered a hit that did better than many were expecting. A sequel hasn't officially been announced, but it's clear Paramount was hoping Sonic would become a franchise-starter, as evidenced by the post-credits scene. Sonic managed to slide into theaters at the exact right time, allowing it to make the bulk of its money before theaters started restricting the size of their crowds. While the rest of the film industry may be struggling, Sonic the Hedgehog has reason to celebrate.
  
  
  
  Source: Forbes
  

 

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I'm just happy to see Jim Carrey again. Nobody can do what he does.