Just like other films in this beloved video game franchise, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 aims to build on the tradition established in the original film and grow even bigger and bolder with its narrative. One of the main ways we do this is through the introduction of new and fun game characters, both heroes and villains, to help keep this series moving forward into the future. One of these characters is Shadow the Hedgehog, one of Sonic’s rivals throughout the games. He will appear in the third filmbut its arrival could cause problems.
While it is important that sequels increase their scope and increase risks In every way possible, it’s also crucial to stay true to the spirit of the story and not be too ambitious. This is something that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 performed very well, treating longtime video game fans to some surprising characters and locations, but was still very accessible and easy to enjoy for casual audiences. Not much is known about the history of Sonic the Hedgehog 3but must show similar adherence to this rule.
Sonic is in danger of becoming a supporting character in Sonic 3 thanks to Shadow
Shadow could easily overshadow the film’s protagonist
As with any exciting casting announcement, the arrival of Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog is the biggest talking point in the lead-up to the film’s release. It’s one of the most exciting things audiences should look forward to, and given the minimal plot details that have been released so far, it’s actually one of the only things that can be expected with any certainty. Much of the film’s marketing is centered around Shadow and his voice actor, but that could be bad news for Sonic himself.
Although that’s great Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has a new character to pique the public’s interest, it is important that the film does not forget who the real protagonist is. These are the Sonic movies, and he’s the character viewers have grown attached to throughout the previous two films, so it’s his story that should be at the forefront. Sonic the Hedgehog 3. If the sequel focuses too much on Shadow, a character that casual audiences don’t yet know or care about, it could be difficult to fully invest in the narrative.
Shadow is just as powerful as Sonic, and his inclusion in the narrative will certainly cause a lot of trouble for the hero, but his inevitable conflict should almost definitely be told from Sonic’s perspective. While It’s tempting to give Keanu Reeves’ character as much screen time as possibleGiven the actor’s immense popularity in the current internet age, this could only serve to the detriment of the story as a whole.
Shadow The Hedgehog’s Popularity Will Only Increase Before Sonic 3
The character has an ever-growing fan base
Given the clear marketing focus on Shadow in previous months Sonic the Hedgehog With the release of 3, it’s inevitable that audiences will have a clearer perception of who exactly this character is when they sit down to watch the film. Video game fans will already know a little about its history, as he has been an integral part of the franchise for a long timebut more casual audiences will also have the opportunity to learn about it before the film is finally released. This will only increase Shadow’s popularity, which could make Sonic the Hedgehog 3 a box office success.
The other Sonic all films performed strongly at the box office, which put some pressure on Sonic 3 have good commercial performance. Otherwise, the film could easily be seen as a failure, which will only have detrimental effects on the future of the franchise. Happily, Shadow’s growing status as a popular character and fan-favorite figure it can only be beneficial for box office potential, but it shouldn’t affect how the story is told.
Sonic already needs to share the spotlight with other great movie characters
The ensemble cast is the best part of the franchise
One of the main obstacles preventing Sonic from fully taking the spotlight in his own film is the excellent cast of supporting characters, Shadow being just one example of this. Characters like Tails and Knuckles are extremely fun and their popularity among Sonic fan base means there will always be requests for them to have more screen time. It’s hard to balance all these characters without putting Sonic’s storyline aside, and the introduction of Shadow could only make that even more difficult.
Furthermore, the Sonic the films also have live-action Hollywood stars such as Jim Carrey and James Marsden to include in the story, and their eccentric performances often steal the show of animated characters. The film’s inevitable struggle to balance the stories of all these characters, including Shadow, will almost certainly be the biggest hurdle to overcome. Sonic 2 had a similar problem with Tails, who was frequently sidelined despite being the film’s main attraction.
Sonic The Hedgehog movies should never forget who the main character is
Sonic should definitely remain at the forefront of history
While it can certainly be fun to put other characters at the forefront of the story for a while, the Sonic The films have a clear protagonist and it should remain that way. Yes, the supporting characters provide some of the franchise’s funniest moments and feature some of the most memorable quotes, but the plot always revolves around Sonic and his dynamics with the other figures. This is how the narrative worked in the first two films, and it would be a shame to see Sonic the Hedgehog 3 avoid it.
There’s certainly room for Shadow to take center stage at certain times. Sonic 3 – he doesn’t need to be relegated to a generic villain or anti-hero who only exists to oppose Sonic, but he also shouldn’t be the main focus of the story.
There’s certainly room for Shadow to take center stage at certain times. Sonic 3 – he doesn’t need to be relegated to a generic villain or anti-hero who only exists to oppose Sonic, but he also shouldn’t be the main focus of the story. It’s possible that the sequel will give him a redemption arc of sorts, one that would allow him to shine alongside Sonic rather than in his place. This might be the safest and most interesting way to introduce Shadow as a character without compromising Sonic’s importance.