Deadline has confirmed that Paramount Pictures now has Keanu Reeves voicing the character of Shadow the Hedgehog in the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
Reeves, best known for his iconic roles in franchises like John Wick and The Matrix, is joining the ensemble cast led by Ben Schwartz as the titular blue hedgehog. The actor will be bringing to life Shadow, a powerful and complex character with a dark past, who was first introduced in the Sonic Adventure 2 video game.
Shadow is described by Deadline as a
“creation of Professor Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of Sonic’s arch-nemesis, Dr. Robotnik. Possessing extraordinary speed, as well as Chaos Control, a power that allows him to manipulate space and time, he’s initially depicted as an antagonist to Sonic, though in the video games from Sega, he eventually becomes an ally.“
Keanu Reeves joins a star-studded cast that includes returning actors James Marsden as Sheriff Tom Wachowski, Tika Sumpter, Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails, Idris Elba as Knuckles, and Jim Carrey as the villainous Dr. Robotnik.
The Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise has been steadily building momentum since its 2020 debut, which grossed over $319 million worldwide. The 2022 sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, further expanded the cinematic universe and introduced beloved characters like Tails and Knuckles.
With Keanu Reeves now on board to voice Shadow, anticipation for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is at an all-time high. Fans are eager to see how this iconic character will be integrated into the live-action adaptation and how Reeves’ talent will shape the portrayal.
Moviegoers can look forward to witnessing the actor’s take on Shadow when Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hits theaters on December 20, 2024.
