Paramount Plus announced on Monday that production is currently underway for the upcoming series Knuckles, a spin-off from last year’s Sonic the Hedgehog 2 which featured Idris Elba as Sonic’s rival. In addition, the main cast for the show has also been set.
According to Deadline, the Knuckles series will include Edi Patterson, Julian Barratt, Scott Mescudi, and Ellie Taylor in undisclosed roles, as well as Adam Pally, returning as Walt Whipple, and guest stars Rory McCann and Tika Sumpter, who returns as Maddie. Elba is also reprising the titular role. The story will follow Knuckles on a “hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior.”
Jeff Fowler, who directed the first two movies, is also returning to direct the pilot of the series; Sonic the Hedgehog 2 writer John Whittington penned the script for the pilot episode and acts as head writer for the series. They both are executive producing, along with Elba, Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara. The directing team for the series includes Ged Wright, Brandon Trost, Jorma Taccone, and Carol Banker.
Knuckles and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 are both coming out in 2024
Jim Carrey and Knuckles (Idris Elba) in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.
Following the success of the first Sonic the Hedgehog film in 2020, right before the pandemic hit, Paramount fast-tracked a sequel that was in theaters two years after the first one, releasing in April of 2022. Two months before the release of that film, the studio announced in an investor’s meeting that they were in the early development of a third theatrical feature film, and a spin-off for Paramount Plus. The studio took a big swing by moving forward with two new projects before the second film opened at the box office, but it paid off.
By the end of its box office run, it grossed over $400 million worldwide on a near-$100M budget, a full $100M more than the first film’s $319M gross.
Paramount Plus Needs More Programs
Paramount Plus needs more titles to add to its roster for audiences interested in anything beyond what Taylor Sheridan is offering. A second season of the live-action Halo series is in development, and they are currently airing a Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies prequel series, which has caused no impact on the industry and which most people have probably never even heard of. The streamer is also rethinking its Star Trek strategy, finishing the five-season series Star Trek: Discovery and the three-season-long Star Trek: Picard.
There is also a series order to Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as well as pursuing new seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Lower Decks. Plus a planned spin-off of Discovery into a feature film for Paramount Plus starring Michelle Yeoh titled Star Trek: Section 31Knuckles will be set in between Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and 3, and will probably be released a year from now on Paramount Plus, giving them a small boost of original content. The threequel will speed into theaters on December 20, 2024, with the entire team returning. According to Deadline, the second installment continues to be one of the most-watched films on Paramount Plus and their top performer on the Kids & Family section. The platform is also continuing its expansion worldwide, reaching new European markets in the first half of 2023.
Knuckles (Idris Elba) in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 from Paramount Pictures and Sega.
