Netflix's Sonic Prime - What We Know So Far
After the surprising success of Jeff Fowler's live-action-slash-animated Sonic the Hedgehog movie in 2020, it seemed like the future of the character outside of the video games would solely lie in the cinematic franchise. But Netflix recently announced that a new animated series entitled Sonic Prime will hurtle its way to the streaming service in the near future. It's not the first time the blue speedster's been given his own TV series, and it probably won't be the last.
Since 1993, audiences have seen The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Underground, Sonic X, and most recently, from 2014 to 2017, Sonic Boom. But the new 3D animated series will be developed by WildBrain Studios alongside Man of Action Entertainment, and will seemingly include a number of different characters from the Sonic video games from SEGA.
Here's everything we know about Sonic Prime so far.
What's the release date for Sonic Prime?
There have been whispers of a new Sonic the Hedgehog series since early December 2020, when a swiftly deleted tweet from Netflix seemingly confirmed the project's existence. Fast forward to February 1, 2021, and the streaming service finally confirmed the news: Sonic Prime will arrive on Netflix in 2022. Netflix didn't reveal a specific release date for the blue speedster's new adventure, most likely just to accommodate the animators and writers amidst the ongoing global situation.
It seems like 2022 will be the Year of the Hedgehog, since Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is slated for release on April 8 of that year. Director Fowler previously teased the Sonic sequel will introduce classic elements from the SEGA video games, like Super Sonic and the Chaos Emeralds. With the cinematic sequel and the animated series arriving in the same year, it'll be interesting to see if there's any crossover between the two. Into the Sonic-Verse, anyone?
Who's in the cast of Sonic Prime?
Unfortunately, Netflix hasn't revealed a cast for the animated series as of February 2021, but Roger Craig Smith likely won't return to voice the hero. Smith has helped bring Sonic to life since 2010 for a number of video games, TV shows, and even a cameo in Disney's Wreck-It Ralph. In a tweet posted in late January 2021, the prolific voice actor suggested he was leaving the role before SEGA later confirmed his exit, tweeting, "Thank you, Roger, for all you've done for Sonic." Perhaps it would be a good idea to bring back some of the other voice actors who've previously played the Blue Blur on multiple occasions, like Sonic Underground's Jaleel White or Sonic X's Jason Griffith.
However, since general audiences will be most familiar with Parks and Recreation's Ben Schwartz voicing the character in the recent movie, it would make sense for Netflix to work with the star for Sonic Prime. Obviously, that all depends on what the actor's upcoming schedule looks like and if he'd be allowed to work on the project, since Paramount has the rights to the live-action franchise.
What will happen in Sonic Prime?
Netflix hasn't revealed much about Sonic Prime and what audiences can expect from the animated series, but the press release announcing the show teases that it will explore "a strange new multiverse" and feature a story of redemption. According to the press release, "The 24-episode animated adventure for kids, families, and long-time fans draws upon the keystones of the brand and features the 'Blue Blur' of video game fame in a high-octane adventure where the fate of a strange new multiverse rests in his gloved hands. Sonic's adventure is about more than a race to save the universe, it's a journey of self-discovery and redemption" (via Pressparty).
Just don't expect a gritty reimagining of the hero, though, as the series is aimed at kids aged six to 11. Still, it sounds like it'll be a fun adventure for Sonic fans old and new. But hang on, if Sonic is traveling through the multiverse, could the show introduce alternate versions of the speedster like Shadow, Scourge the Hedgehog, and Metal Sonic? We'll just have to wait and see in 2022.