‘Sonic 3′ Trailer Brings Keanu Reeves’ Shadow Into the Light

Sonic is putting on his running shoes for the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

The latest installment in the franchise introduces Keanu Reeves as popular video game character Shadow, who debuted in 2001’s Sonic Adventure 2 as a sort of anti-Sonic. He’s dark and edgy but has similar powers to the heroic hedgehog.

“Shadow’s story began a lot like yours, Sonic, but where you found family and friends, Shadow found only pain and loss,” the narrator says.

Paramount showed off a first look at Sonic 3 at CinemaCon in April, where it revealed that the events of Sonic 2 left antagonist Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) depressed and out of shape. He gets back in the saddle thanks to creating Shadow to take down Sonic, voiced by Ben Schwartz.

The Sonic franchise became a breakout hit in 2020, with $319 million globally, making it one of the top films of the pandemic-stricken year. Two years later, Sonic 2 followed and grossed $404 million globally.

Jeff Fowler directed all three films with Schwartz starring opposite James Mardsen as Tom Wachowski, a human friend of Sonic’s. Reeves’ turn as a villain follows Idris Elba voicing antagonist Knuckles in the 2022 sequel. His role expanded for the Paramount+ series Knuckles, which also stars Adam Pally.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 bows in theaters on Dec. 20.