Sonic The Hedgehog 3’s runtime is more concerning for Shadow’s introduction

The long-awaited film in the franchise, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, recently revealed its runtime, and many are concerned that there won’t be enough time to properly delve into the film’s most exciting cast addition. Scheduled for release on December 20, 2024, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will see the return of the iconic blue hedgehog, alongside his friends Tails and Knuckles, as they face a mysterious new enemy called Shadow. Although the film has many interesting elements to offer the audience, The film’s 109-minute running time seems a little short for what viewers expect to see.

One of the biggest changes that will occur Sonic the Hedgehog 3 it is the appearance of the Shadow. Like Tails and Knuckles before him, Shadow is an integral character in Sonic the Hedgehog franchiseand, without a doubt, audiences have been waiting to see him since the first film’s release in 2020. Thus, casting Shadow as the villain of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 made viewers believe he would play a big role in the upcoming film. However, with just an hour and 40 minutes to spare amidst a vast cast, Shadow could miss out on the screen time audiences desperately want.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3’s Crowded Set Makes Shorter Runtime Risky

How Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Managed His Time

The most significant concern that comes with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 running time is that the film will not be able to adequately develop all of its characters. Throughout the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, Each film has introduced more and more characters from the Sonic universe, meaning the third film has the most characters yet. From the Wachowskis and Dr. Robotnik to Sonic and his friends, there are countless people the film must move, and with so little time, many of these characters can end up feeling boring and somewhat useless.

Unfortunately, this is not the first case where time has been an issue for the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. 2022 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 had a runtime of 122 minutes and fewer characters, but still had difficulties to successfully establish Sonic the Hedgehog cast. Tails and Knuckles were introduced, but they didn’t always feel as dynamic as Sonic or other characters. Ultimately, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 could easily encounter the same problem. With the addition of Shadow and Grandpa Robotnik, the film may struggle to give its characters enough screen time.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3’s Runtime Could Limit Shadow’s Screentime

Why Shadow needs to play a big role

The most disappointing result Sonic the Hedgehog 3 the runtime would be if Shadow had limited screentime. Among Sonic’s many iconic characters, Shadow is a particularly important figure who deserves a large chunk of screen time. Audiences not only need to understand him as a villain, but also see how he interacts with Sonic. In this way, other Sonic the Hedgehog characters may need to be pushed into the background so that Shadow gets the spotlight he needs.

Shadow needs to be treated well Sonic the Hedgehog 3 because he could affect the future of the franchise. While characters like Tails and Knuckles are fun and provide opportunities for spinoffs, Shadow is fundamental to Sonic’s character development. In many ways, Shadow and Sonic are two sides of the same coin. Both characters can learn from each other, meaning Shadow is necessary for Sonic to grow. Therefore, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has big shoes to fill and, hopefully, can succeed.