10 Biggest Reveals From Sonic The Hedgehog 3’s Director Commentary

Director Jeff Fowler and Sonic voice actor Ben Schwartz reveal many behind-the-scenes details about the making of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 during the director’s commentary. The story of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 follows Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, who get recruited by the Guardian Unit of Nations (GUN) to take on Shadow. In the film, Shadow eventually teams up with Agent Stone, Ivo Robotnik, and his grandfather, Gerald Robotnik, who threatens to use the Eclipse Cannon to destroy the world.

In addition to Schwartz, the cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 includes Jim Carrey, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, James Marsden, and Tika Sumpter. By the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic and Shadow actually team up to take down Gerald Robotnik. Even Ivo Robotnik, who has been the primary villain of all the Sonic movies, turns against his uncle. Now that Sonic 3 has been released on digital, the director’s commentary provides many insights into how the film was created. Here are the ten biggest takeaways from Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s director’s commentary:

10

Casting Maria In Sonic 3 Was Easy Because Of The Mad Max Franchise

Aylya Browner Plays Maria In Sonic The Hedgehog 3

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 wastes no time in teasing the relationship between Shadow and Maria. Fowler understood that Shadow’s bond with Maria was very important for the character. Therefore, casting the right actor to portray Maria was crucial to the success of Sonic the Hedeghog 3. During the director’s commentary, Fowler revealed that Mad Max director George Miller actually made it easy to cast Maria.

Shadow running across the Eclipse Cannon next to Shadow looking angry in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

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Before she appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Aylya Browne played young Furiosa in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The most recent Mad Max movie spends a significant amount of time with young Furiosa before she grows up and Anya Taylor-Joy takes over the role. Fowler loved that Browne had prior experience in a major franchise and instantly knew that Browne was the perfect choice for Maria in Sonic 3. Therefore, casting Maria in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was actually very easy for Fowler.

9

Early Versions Of Sonic 3 Included More Ozzie Subtitles

Ozzie’s Barking Has Always Received Subtitles In The Sonic Movies

Ozzie the Dog and Sonic the Hedgehog wearing sunglasses

While Ozzie isn’t the most important character in the Sonic movies, he is still an essential member of Sonic’s family and has been around since the first movie. Therefore, Fowler always likes to give Ozzie a few comedic moments in each Sonic film. In fact, Fowler admitted that he actually got carried away with Ozzie’s subtitles in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Fowler loved giving Ozzie different lines while making Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

During the director’s commentary, Fowler revealed that Ozzie originally had way more subtitles in Sonic 3. For example, when Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles fly off in GUN’s helicopter, Ozzie originally barked and the subtitles read, “Make sure you pee on everything you can.” Fowler loved giving Ozzie different lines while making Sonic the Hedgehog 3. However, Fowler had to show restraint with Ozzie’s subtitles and ended up cutting this line, along with many others.

8

Keanu Reeves Pitched The First Interaction Between Sonic & Shadow

Reeves Joins The Franchise As Shadow In Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Shadow standing in the street with burning cars behind him in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Fowler didn’t want to make audiences wait for the first interaction between Sonic and Shadow. Sonic meeting Shadow is a moment that fans of the franchise have been waiting a long time to see, and Fowler is thrilled with how their first interaction turned out. In fact, Fowler claimed that Keanu Reeves, who voices Shadow the Hedgehog, was actually the one who came up with the idea for Sonic and Shadow’s first interaction.

When they first meet, both Sonic and Shadow are confused by the other’s appearance. Since they essentially look identical, they both bicker about how the other hedgehog looks like them. Reeves pitching the first few lines of dialogue between Sonic and Shadow proves how invested he was in his highly-anticipated role in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

7

Shadow Didn’t Want To Start A Fight With Team Sonic At The Beginning Of Sonic 3

Shadow Easily Beats Sonic, Tails, & Knuckles In A Fight At The Start Of Sonic 3

Knuckles, Sonic, and Tails in fighting stances in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

After escaping from Prison Island in Tokyo Bay, Japan in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, it is instantly clear that Shadow wants revenge against GUN. However, during their first meeting, Shadow doesn’t necessarily know that Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles have any association with GUN. Therefore, even though he is technically one of the villains of the movie, Fowler revealed that Shadow doesn’t want to fight Team Sonic at the start of the film.

imagery-from-Sonic-The-Hedgehog-3-

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This is why Knuckles is actually the one who begins the fight between Team Sonic and Shadow. If Knuckles didn’t attack him, then Shadow wouldn’t have tried to fight the members of Team Sonic. In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Knuckles quickly learns attacking Shadow was a mistake, as the black hedgehog quite easily takes on him, Tails, and Sonic. This fight proves that Shadow is much more powerful than other characters that have been introduced in the franchise.

6

Jeff Fowler Wanted Shadow’s Origin To Be Simpler In Sonic 3

Shadow’s Origin Is Changed In Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Super Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

As the movie progresses, audiences learn more and more about Shadow’s origin. Shadow’s origin in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is actually different from the video games. In Sonic 3, Shadow crash-lands on Earth in an asteroid and is experimented on by GUN scientists, who are led by Gerald Robotnik. Meanwhile, in the video games, Gerald makes a deal with the villain Black Doom to create Shadow in an attempt to save Maria’s life.

Since Shadow came from space, it’s possible that Black Doom could be introduced in a future Sonic movie.

Therefore, while Shadow and Gerald still have a connection in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Gerald is responsible for the creation of Shadow in the video games. For the movie, Fowler claimed that he wanted to keep Shadow’s origin simpler, so that he didn’t have to introduce characters like Black Doom and create any unnecessary confusion for the audience. However, since Shadow came from space, it’s possible that Black Doom could be introduced in a future Sonic movie.

5

Sonic 3 Was About Sonic Learning To Be A Leader

Sonic Faced Adversity In Sonic The Hedgehog 3

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In the director’s commentary, Fowler and Schwartz discussed how the purpose of Sonic’s arc in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was to teach him to be a better leader. The director and actor revealed that the first Sonic movie was about Sonic finding a family, then Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was about him finding a team. Therefore, now that Sonic has a team, it only made sense for Sonic 3 to be about him becoming a leader.

At several points during Sonic the Hedgehog 3, it is clear that Sonic is not a responsible leader. He often chooses to go off on his own, leaving Tails and Knuckles behind. However, by the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic realizes the error of his ways. Team Sonic, along with Shadow, work together to save the world during the climax of Sonic the Hedeghog 3. Therefore, it is clear that he is a much better leader at the end of Sonic 3.

4

Jim Carrey’s Hair At The Beginning Of Sonic 3 Is Real

Carrey Grew His Hair Out For Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Jim Carrey as Robotnik with long hair and holding his finger up in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Early on in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, it is revealed that Jim Carrey’s Ivo Robotnik survived the climax of the second Sonic movie. In Sonic 3, audiences catch up with an extremely disheveled version of Ivo Robotnik. Ivo has very long hair and looks like he hasn’t showered in weeks at the beginning of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. During the director’s commentary, Fowler claims that Ivo’s long hair at the start of Sonic 3 is actually Carrey’s real hair.

Robotnik Jim Carrey with Sonic and Shadow Custom Image

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Fowler stated that Carrey started growing his hair out when they wrapped filming on Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Therefore, when it came time to shoot Sonic 3, he looked perfect for this version of Ivo. Fowler also revealed that Agent Stone actor Lee Majdoub actually shaved Carrey’s head on camera for Ivo’s transformation scene in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The director humorously added that Majdoub was terrified to shave Carrey’s head on camera.

3

Jim Carrey’s Ivo & Gerald Robotnik Scenes Had To Be Filmed On Separate Days

Carrey Plays Two Robotnik’s In Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Jim Carrey as Ivo and Gerald Robotnik walking side by side in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Carrey came out of his supposed retirement to play not one, but two characters in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Carrey reprises his role as Ivo in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but also plays Gerald Robotnik, who is Ivo’s long-lost grandfather. Since Gerald Robotnik is 110 years old in Sonic 3, Carrey had to spend hours in the makeup chair. This meant that it was impossible for Carrey to act as both Ivo and Gerald on the same day.

Playing both Ivo and Gerald must have been incredibly difficult for Carrey, but he excelled in both roles and made them both standout characters in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

During the director’s commentary, Fowler revealed that they would film all of Carrey’s Ivo scenes on a Monday, for example, and then give him a day off to prepare for his Gerald scenes. Then they would film the same scene once again on Wednesday, but this time Carrey would be portraying Gerald. Playing both Ivo and Gerald must have been incredibly difficult for Carrey, but he excelled in both roles and made them both standout characters in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

2

Jim Carrey Pitched The Nanotechnology Idea For Ivo & Gerald Robotnik’s Final Fight

Ivo Turns On Gerald At The End Of Sonic 3

Gerald Robotnik screaming in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

While Ivo Robotnik has been a villain in previous Sonic movies, he turns on his grandfather during the climax of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and helps Team Sonic and Shadow save the world. During Sonic 3’s climax, Ivo and Gerald use nanotechnology while fighting each other. During this fight, Gerald creates a giant fist with nanotechnology, and also transforms himself into a mechanical scorpion. Meanwhile, Ivo creates wings to fly away from his grandfather.

In the director’s commentary, Fowler claimed that Carrey is actually the one who pitched the use of nanotechnology for Ivo and Gerald’s final fight. Since they are both scientific geniuses, them using nanotechnology to fight each other works perfectly. It also gave Carrey the chance to do some great physical comedy in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

1

Jeff Fowler Teased Shadow’s Role In Future Sonic Movies

Shadow Will Certainly Appear In A Future Movie

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Even though Shadow seemingly died when the space station exploded at the end of the film, Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s post-credits scene reveals that he is still alive. This is great news, as his character still has so much potential. During the director’s commentary, Fowler discussed what Shadow’s role could be in future Sonic movies, stressing that he will always be a lone wolf character.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has been confirmed and has a release date of March 19, 2027. However, fans also desperately want a Shadow spinoff after his role in Sonic 3.

Therefore, even though he works with Team Sonic during Sonic 3’s climax, Fowler’s comments make it clear that he will never be an official member of the team. However, Shadow will still try to do what is right in any future appearances. Shadow was a standout character in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, so it will be exciting to see him in any future Sonic movies, and possibly in his own spinoff project.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3

PG
ActionScience FictionComedyFamily

Release Date

December 20, 2024

Runtime

110 minutes

Director

Jeff Fowler

Writers

Josh Miller, Patrick Casey, John Whittington

Producers

Neal H. Moritz, Tim Miller, Toru Nakahara, Tommy Gormley, Toby Ascher, Haruki Satomi, Hitoshi Okuno, Yukio Sugino

Cast

  • Headshot Of Ben Schwartz In The Sonic The Hedgehog Los Angeles Premiere

    Ben Schwartz

    Sonic (voice)

  • Headshot Of Jim Carrey In The North America Rights

    Jim Carrey

    Dr. Robotnik / Gerald Robotnik

  • Headshot Of Keanu Reeves In The Los Angeles Premiere Of Lionsgate's 'John Wick: Chapter 4'

    Keanu Reeves

    Shadow (voice)

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    See All Cast & Crew

Prequel(s)

Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog

Franchise(s)

Sonic the Hedgehog

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