Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Release Date Announced

Mark your calendars, Sonic fans! Paramount has officially announced that "Sonic the Hedgehog 4" will race into theaters on March 19, 2027. With just two years to go until we see the iconic blue blur back in action, anticipation is already building. While no further details on the plot or cast have been disclosed beyond the release date, the excitement is palpable.

The decision to greenlight another sequel comes as no surprise, especially following the phenomenal success of "Sonic the Hedgehog 3." The third installment in the series raked in an impressive $218 million at the domestic box office and soared to over $420 million worldwide. This makes it the highest-grossing film in the Sonic franchise to date, surpassing the first film's commendable $148 million haul. This success is all the more remarkable given the initial controversy surrounding Sonic's design, which was significantly altered in post-production to better reflect the character fans know and love.

"Sonic the Hedgehog 3" also holds the distinction of being the second highest-grossing video game movie in North America, only behind the animated "Super Mario Bros. Movie." This achievement reignites the classic rivalry between Nintendo and Sega, now playing out on the big screen.

The live-action Sonic franchise has grown significantly, now encompassing three feature films and a streaming TV show spinoff featuring Knuckles. Based on the beloved Sega video game series, the films follow Sonic, voiced by Ben Schwartz, as he battles his nemesis, Dr. Robotnik, portrayed by Jim Carrey. Each new film has expanded the Sonic universe, introducing key characters like Tails, voiced by Colleen O'Shaughnessey, and Knuckles, voiced by Idris Elba. The latest film also introduced Shadow the Hedgehog, with Keanu Reeves lending his voice to the character.

"Sonic the Hedgehog 3" teased the introduction of another character to the franchise, but we'll keep that under wraps to avoid spoilers. For those eager to learn more, you can check out our guide on new characters here. And don't miss our in-depth review of "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" to get all the insights on the latest adventure of the speedy hedgehog.