Keanu Reeves Officially Voiced as Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3!
The highly anticipated Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie has confirmed a major casting coup: Keanu Reeves will voice the iconic anti-hero, Shadow the Hedgehog. The news broke via a playful teaser on the film's official TikTok account, hinting at the casting with the phrase "ForeSHADOWing." The video cleverly juxtaposed a young Keanu Reeves from Speed with an excited Sonic proclaiming Reeves a "national treasure."
Speculation about Reeves' involvement had been circulating for months. Shadow, cryogenically frozen in the previous film, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, is poised for a significant role, potentially setting up a thrilling showdown with Sonic. The upcoming official trailer (rumored for release next week) will likely showcase this much-anticipated rivalry.
Ben Schwartz, the voice of Sonic, previously expressed his excitement about Shadow's introduction, highlighting the filmmakers' dedication to fan satisfaction in an interview with Screen Rant.
Returning cast members include Jim Carrey as Dr. Eggman, Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Tails, and Idris Elba as Knuckles. Krysten Ritter joins the cast in a currently unannounced role.
The Sonic movie franchise's success has significantly impacted the broader Sonic brand. Takashi Iizuka of Sonic Team acknowledged this in a 2022 interview with VGC, noting the challenge of appealing to both longtime fans and a new, wider audience.
With Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hitting theaters on December 20th, fans can soon witness the explosive on-screen chemistry between Sonic and Shadow, and the rest of the beloved cast.
