Paramount has announced a Sonic the Hedgehog spin-off movie that’s set to launch in 2028, and fans believe the film will finally see Keanu Reeves’ Shadow the Hedgehog step up as its star.
Currently titled “Sonic Universe Event Film,” the movie has been given a December 22, 2028 release date on Paramount’s upcoming movie calendar, according to Variety.
As Sonic fans will know, Paramount’s schedule already includes another upcoming movie for the Blue Blur: Sonic the Hedgehog 4, which is set to debut on March 19, 2027, and properly introduce both Metal Sonic and Amy Rose. So, what will this subsequent spin-off be about?
Fans seem certain that Shadow the Hedgehog (last seen acting as an antagonist in 2024’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3) is now getting a movie all to himself, following positive feedback to Reeves’ portrayal of the spiny antihero and almost $500 million at the box office for his proper big screen debut.
A movie focusing on Shadow also simply makes sense, rather than one centered on any of the franchise’s characters more closely aligned with Sonic. Shadow, of course, also previously starred in his own video game, a 2005 third-person shooter, which featured its own cast of side-characters. So, is this finally where we see Rouge the Bat?
As of now, Paramount is keeping schtum on all things Shadow and Rouge-shaped, perhaps unsurprisingly considering the fact it has Sonic 4 to launch first. Officially, it’s yet to be confirmed whether this spin-off will indeed be a Shadow the Hedgehog vehicle, or whether Shadow will also be back for Sonic 4.
Each of the three Sonic films released to date have brought bigger returns for Paramount, with more than $1 billion now raked in for the trilogy. But the trio’s box office pales in comparison to the $1.36 billion raked in by Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Movie. Interestingly, Paramount has no Sonic movie set to launch next year, leaving the field clear for Nintendo’s sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
