Warning: This article contains spoilers from the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 post-credits sceneWith two long-awaited characters making their debut in Sonic the Hedgehog 3'In the post-credits scene, director Jeff Fowler teases how his arrival will shape the direction of the franchise going forward. The third installment of Paramount's film adaptation of the beloved Sega icon saw Shadow the Hedgehog make his debut, with Keanu Reeves voicing the beloved antihero. Alongside Reeves, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 marks the return of Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Jim Carrey, James Marsden and Tika Sumpter.
With Amy Rose racing to rescue Sonic from a horde of Metal Sonics in Sonic the Hedgehog 3post-credits teaser, Fowler explained the TelaRant how the scene will inspire the future of the franchise. The director recalled his excitement as the audience speculated about which characters from the franchise's history would come next, as both the audience and the technical team have many characters they consider their favorites. Furthermore, the director stated that he already had a firm direction in mind about the direction of the series:
Look, there are so many great characters. Sonic has been around for over 30 years, we love moving down the list, and it's fun to watch fans speculate online. Everyone has their favorites, on our side, everyone has their favorites. It's fun to brainstorm, and yes, the story ideas, it's a package deal. We would never introduce characters at the end of one of these films if we weren't already excited about where they could take the story.
By diving into how Amy and Metal Sonic were selected for Sonic the Hedgehog 3In the post-credits scene, Fowler compared his debut to Shadow's post-credits appearance in the previous film, stating that they were selected for “shake things up“in the franchise. Check out the rest of Fowler's explanation of the main character introductions below:
Because that's what really determines which characters are chosen. It's like, “What would be new? What would be interesting? What would be a fun direction to take our world?” So when these characters, like Shadow, were introduced at the end of Sonic 2, we knew he was going to be a very exciting character and really shake things up in the films. The choice was clear.
What Sonic The Hedgehog 3's post-credits characters mean for the future of the franchise
Metal Sonic and Amy introduce several new dynamics
With Ivo Robotnik's (Carrey) previous experiences with Sonic's feathers throughout the franchise, the debut of Sonic's robotic doppelgänger feels like the culmination of a long-teased arc. However Sonic the Hedgehog 3 may have ended with Robotnik's potential death, it's clear from previous episodes that the doctor is capable of cheating death. One possible way for Metal Sonic to radically shake up the franchise, as Fowler alludes, would see him take on the villainous role as the main antagonist of a future film in place of his creator.
Amy Rose presents an opportunity to add a new dynamic to the franchise, on the other hand, thanks to her relationship with the titular blue hedgehog. In most entries in the series, Amy is shown to have a passionate crush on Sonicleading her to chase him across the world, often to his chagrin. As such, Amy's involvement could bring a fun new dynamic to the screen that longtime fans are eager to see.
Our thoughts on the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 franchise
Several games could serve as inspiration for the fourth film
While Sonic the Hedgehog 3 brought the franchise into the 2000s era of the character's games with its adaptation of Sonic Adventure 2Amy Rose and Metal Sonic's shared debut suggests a change in the franchise's direction. Both characters debuted in 1993 Sonic CD in a plot involving the flow of time, but they also played a role Sonic Heroesthe 2003 follow-up to Sonic Adventure 2, which saw Metal Sonic take on the role of main antagonist. As such, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 it could be an amalgamation of the stories from both games.
Furthermore, with Shadow the Hedgehog's survival and reconciliation with Sonic, he has the potential to play the role of Team Sonic and Amy's ally in the battle against Metal Sonic, as he did in Heroes. As such, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 introduced many fan-favorite elements that viewers will be excited to see on the big screen.