When the Sonic the Hedgehog movie was first teased in April 2019, the internet recoiled in collective horror. Reborn as an unholy, humanoid CG abomination, Sonic’s gangly legs, un-conjoined eyes and terrifyingly lifelike teeth felt less like dream fulfilment and more like a waking nightmare.
Yet as gamers braced themselves for yet another Hollywood humiliation, against all odds, the blue blur bounced back. Thanks to a hasty redesign, Sega’s sassy speedster returned to cinemas triumphant, raking in a cool 306 million USD box office and spawning a successful 2022 sequel.
Now, Paramount is hoping that everyone’s favourite alien echidna will repeat the same ring-spewing magic for its streaming service. With Dr Robotnik sent packing, we return to Sonic’s serene slice of American suburbia in Montana’s Green Hills, where a fish out of water Knuckles struggles to adapt to life on Earth.
