We’re finally nearing the end of the wait for the cinematic event of the year: Sonic The Hedgehog 3. It’s been my most anticipated film of the year, and I’ve been foaming at the mouth for any and all pieces of information about the threequel. The first trailer they released a few months ago reassured me that my hype was not misplaced, but the second trailer has solidified that this may well be the best film of the year. So, let’s pull apart the second trailer, and I’ll tell you how I’ve come to this conclusion.
This new trailer gave us a bit more of what we can expect over the course of the film. There were more shots of Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey), and Knuckles (Idris Elba) running around Green Hill, Dr Eggman (Jim Carrey) and Gerald Robotnik (also Carrey) being cartoonishly evil, and Shadow (Keanu Reeves) being an absolute menace to anyone who gets in his way. But we already knew all of that from previous trailers. What we didn’t know was that the bloody Chao Garden was going to be included! Granted, it’s more akin to a kid's restaurant than a place to raise Chao, but its inclusion is more than welcome. Knuckles even said that Tails looked like a Pokemon, which got a chuckle out of me. The trailer does a good job of further teasing plot details without giving too much away. I now don’t want to see anything else before the movie drops unless it’s clips of Shadow saying “Damn!”
Speaking of the edgiest Hedgehog this side of Westopolis, SHADOW HAS A FUCKING GUN! I can not put into words how excited I was when Shadow picked up a gun while sitting on a motorbike. It’s everything I ever wanted, and the image alone is enough to make me pre-emptively say this is the best film ever. But in all seriousness, this has got me excited because it shows that the creators know these characters and their histories. Shadow only uses a gun in Shadow The Hedgehog 2005, and it would’ve been very easy just to have him be edgy Sonic. The fact that they’ve gone out of their way to reference a game many (not me) consider bad has me hopeful for the rest of the small details for every other character in this film. It also opens the floodgates for all possible references, including fan favourites.
Ok, so Eggman didn’t literally piss on the Moon (my fellow SnapCube enjoyers will get the reference, though), but the trailer does show the Eclipse Cannon firing at (and through) the moon. Taken at face value, it might just seem like standard bad guy moves for the trailer, but like with Shadow having a gun and the Chao, this helps set a great precedent. If they’re willing to go as far as to adapt the Moon being blown up, there’s no telling what else they could do. Will the Biolizard show up? Will Sonic and Shadow become besties and transform into their Super forms? Will "Live and Learn" by Crush 40 play over the final climactic battle? While I would adore it if all of these things happened in the film, they would be added bonuses because this film is already looking near perfection.
Those are my main takeaways from this trailer. I know I kinda rambled a tad and got really excited about a hedgehog with a gun, but I’m just really excited. The Sonic franchise is one that I hold dear, and I have been a ride-or-die since I picked up Sonic Advance 3 all those years ago. I’ve enjoyed the previous theatrical instalments and was always going to be excited for the third, and this trailer has only cemented that even more. So, you bet your ass that I’ll be talking even more about Sonic the Hedgehog 3 when it drops later this month!
Have you seen the new trailer? What did you think? What characters do you think will show up? Let us know in the comments where we can talk all things Sonic.
