Pre-production is underway on Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and we have an exclusive update on the casting of Knuckles the Red Echidna.
Sonic the Hedgehog was released last year before the global pandemic and it became a surprise hit. It’s charming action-adventure family story delighted both fans of the Sega video-game franchise and also the regular audience who weren’t as familiar with the game.
Sonic grossed $319.7 million worldwide and managed to become the highest-grossing video game based film in the U.S. box office, surpassing Detective Pikachu. Paramount Pictures then greenlit a sequel to continue the adventures and to build upon the success of the first one. Jeff Fowler, who directed the first Sonic film will be returning for the sequel, along with screenwriters Pat Casey and Josh Miller.
The movie starred James Marsden, Jim Carrey, Tika Sumpter, and Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog successfully set up the groundwork for a sequel with the rivalry of Sonic and Dr. Robotnik, while introducing his iconic sidekick Tails in the mid-credit scene.
The first film was an origin story for the blue hedgehog. We didn’t see much of his home, it focused on how he ended up on Earth and managed to make friends and save Earth from the mad scientist Dr. Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey. Fans have been hoping that more elements of the video game franchise will be included in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, after the first didn’t feature a huge amount. The appearance of Tails does hint at more elements being included.
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The sequel has been kept under wraps for many months as the film is in the development stage since the middle of the pandemic. We at The Illuminerdi, previously reported exclusively that the production on the sequel is going to start this May, and also the video-game character Knuckles the Red Echidna, will be appearing and is going to have a prominent role in the second movie.
Now, we have an update on the casting of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 to share with you!
Jason Momoa Has Been Offered The Role of Knuckles
In our earlier report, we reported the character description for the Knuckles character in the sequel. He is going to stay true to his video game incarnation, and also “his personality will be serious in nature, but still gullible at times”. Since then, the production has been in search of an actor who befits the voice of Knuckles. We now know who has been given the offer to voice the Red Echidna.
The Illuminerdi can exclusively reveal that Jason Momoa has been officially offered the Knuckles role in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 by Paramount. Our sources indicate that the ball is in his court and that it’s up to him to decide at this point. We will wait and see if he takes the role.
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In Sega’s Sonic franchise, Knuckles is one of the series’ most popular characters. Knuckles is a red anthropomorphic short-beaked echidna who is determined and serious, but sometimes gullible. He can glide and climb up walls and is a powerful fighter with spiked hands. He serves as the guardian of Master Emerald, a huge gemstone that controls the series’ integral Chaos Emeralds, and is the last living member of his race. Knuckles enters the video-game series as an antagonist of Sonic and later sees him as both a friend and a rival. While slower than Sonic, Knuckles is depicted as one of the franchises’ strongest characters and a skilled martial artist.
Momoa definitely embodies the serious personality that Knuckles requires, his sturdy voice will suit the super-strength Knuckles possesses. If he accepts the role, the casting of Momoa will undoubtedly get fans very exciting. Jason Momoa has never done a project quite like this in his career, he has only done a couple of small voiceover roles in animation previously.
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Colleen O’Shaughnessey, who portrayed Miles “Tails” Prower in the game series since 2014, reprised her role for the mid-credits scene in the movie. It is still unknown if she will return to voice the character in the sequel film.
Having Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, in a film side by side will surely excite video-game fans. We still don’t know why Tails is searching for Sonic. The main cast of the first film including James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, and Ben Schwartz will return for Sonic the Hedgehog 2. It will be interesting to see where Sonic’s story leads to next, considering the potential of bringing more elements from the video games. Sounds like this movie is shaping up to be an incredible adventure.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is scheduled for release on April 8th, 2022.
Would you like to see Jason Momoa voice Knuckles? Are you excited for Sonic the Hedgehog 2? What do you hope to see in the sequel? Which characters do you want to see appear? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or on our social media and be sure to come back to The Illuminerdi for more movie news.
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