The forthcoming sequel in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise is speeding toward a release.
Sonic 4 director Jeff Fowler took to social media Friday to announce that the movie has wrapped production. Adapting the popular Sega video game property, the Paramount Pictures feature is set to hit theaters March 19, 2027. Additionally, an untitled film in the franchise will debut theatrically in late 2028.
“And that’s a wrap on #SonicMovie4!!!” Fowler, who helmed the first three features, wrote on X. “On behalf of this amazing cast/crew, we have filmed the BEST Sonic Movie yet and can’t wait to share.”
The filmmaker’s post included a photo of himself with a puppet of Metal Sonic, an evil robot version of Sonic from the gaming franchise that was teased at the end of the third movie.
Ben Schwartz reprises his voice role as the speedy titular critter in Sonic 4. Other voice stars include Kristen Bell as Amy Rose, Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails, Idris Elba as Knuckles and Keanu Reeves as Shadow. Jim Carrey, James Marsden and Tika Sumpter round out the film’s live-action cast. Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher and Toru Nakahara return as producers for the fourth movie.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hit theaters in 2024 and saw Carrey portraying a dual role as Dr. Robotnik and the mad scientist’s grandfather. It surpassed $490 million at the global box office. The franchise, which kicked off with the February 2020 release of Sonic the Hedgehog, has also spawned the Paramount+ series Knuckles.
In his review of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 for The Hollywood Reporter, chief film critic David Rooney called the movie “a well-balanced, fast-paced blend of action and slapstick comedy that, in this case, takes place in such scenic locales as Tokyo and London.”