Shadow Joins With Keanu Reeves Voicing

Paramount has released the first trailer for “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” which introduces one of the blue speedster’s most iconic foes, the evil Shadow the Hedgehog — who’s voiced by Keanu Reeves. The “Sonic” threequel will premiere in theaters on Dec. 20.

The third film — which was greenlit prior to the release of 2022’s second installment — will explore new areas of the video game universe created by Sega. Though plot details have been kept under wraps, the post-credits scene of “Sonic 2” teased the inclusion of Shadow.

Alongside Ben Schwartz as Sonic, the live-action cast from the previous two movies — comprised of Jim Carrey as the villianous Dr. Robotnik, James Marsden as Tom Wachowski, Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski and Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone — will reprise their roles. Additionally, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, who voices Miles “Tails” Prower, and Idris Elba, who voices Knuckles the Echidna, are also back.

Elba recently starred in Paramount+’s live-action spinoff series “Knuckles,” which followed the titular character as he adjusts to life on Earth after being introduced in “Sonic 2.” The show also starred Adam Pally as sheriff Wade Whipple from the first two “Sonic” movies and featured cameos from Schwartz and O’Shaughnessey as Sonic and Tails. In the miniseries, Knuckles “agrees to train Wade as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior.” The events of the series took place between “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.”

“Sonic the Hedgehog” premiered in theaters in February 2020, and its sequel was released in April 2022. Both films earned over $724 million combined at the global box office. Jeff Fowler, who directed the first two films, returns for the third.

Watch the full trailer below.