Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the most popular video game franchises and among the rare titles that have successfully jumped to the cinematic medium. In 2020, Sonic the Hedgehog was released to mostly positive reviews and birthed two sequels and a spin-off series, which is set to premiere soon.
Ahead of the release of Knuckles, a spin-off television series focusing on the titular Echidna, co-creator and producer Toby Ascher spoke about mapping out the overarching plan for the franchise. Ascher teased that the individual stories would develop into Avengers-level events, hyping up fans for what’s in store. Here is how fans reacted to Ascher’s comments about the future of the Sonic franchise.
Sonic Producer Toby Ascher Teases Avengers-Level Events For the Franchise
2024 promises to be a big year for the Sonic franchise, which will see the release of its third live-action installment, Sonic the Hedgehog 3. However, before the threequel, the Knuckles spin-off series, featuring Idris Elba as the voice of the titular hero, will expand the world of Sonic.
As the spin-off series gears up for a release in April 2024, co-creator Toby Ascher spoke with Paste magazine and discussed what the future holds for the franchise.
“We knew that, with Shadow coming into Sonic 3 and some of the bigger things that we want to do, the Sonic franchise on the movie side is going to be these Avengers-level events.”
Ascher made the above statement regarding Sonic’s evil counterpart Shadow the Hedgehog appearing in the threequel, paving the way for larger conflicts in the movie side of the franchise. Ascher also noted that the television side allowed them to explore and introduce newer characters who can then take center stage in an Avengers-level mega event in presumably a fourth film.
Fans React to Toby Ascher’s Plans For the Future of the Sonic Franchise
Ascher’s comments about introducing several new characters from the popular video game franchise have fans excited. Moreover, the thought of seeing fan-favorite characters such as Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, Amy, Silver, and Espio, in a team-up or crossover event film, akin to the Avengers movies in the MCU generated hype on social media.
Here is what fans are saying about Ascher’s plans for the future of the Sonic franchise on X.
It will be epic. pic.twitter.com/Ak8hZNoRaK
— Eric Pellinen (@EricPellinen) April 8, 2024
If SEGA wants to impress us with surprise characters & the adventures they can give us, they should canonize the Freedom Fighters. It’s always video game characters. Never comic book ones. To finally give us something different without the same cast we always see, would be epic.
— 🎥The_Movie_Going_Gamer🎮 (@The_Movie_Goer) April 8, 2024
That sounds cool. I don't think they needed to bring up marvel since the films are already loved but I'm ready for some higher stakes and they're going to have to introduce way more characters for some avengers story.
— Eddie (@OHMYDIAZ) April 8, 2024
Sonic doesn't have a thanos
— victor🐲🔥 (@victor49277) April 8, 2024
They are fun so keep em coming
— Vinny Talks' ERA (@vinnytalks_) April 8, 2024
As the tweets indicate, most fans are hyped to see Ascher’s plan for an epic event story featuring a vast array of Sonic characters on the big screen. Fans also expressed excitement to see what the franchise does next after its two upcoming projects, which will be released in 2024.
However, some fans were skeptical of the idea and noted that the absence of a villain like Thanos from the MCU could ruin the plans for an Avengers-level event story for the Sonic franchise. While Jim Carrey‘s Dr. Robotnik / Eggman could serve as the main antagonistic threat of the franchise, the veteran actor is unlikely to stick around for much longer.
Knuckles is set to premiere on Paramount+ on April 26, 2024, while Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will release on December 20, 2024.
