Sonic 2 director Jeff Fowler promises ‘all kinds’ of game references
The anticipation for the sequel to the critically acclaimed (ish) and financially successful (ish) Sonic the Hedgehog movie adaptation is palpable. It’s been building since last year, when it was first revealed that not only would both Tails and Knuckles be present – with the former being voiced by his usual in-game actress, and the latter given life by Idris bleedin’ Elba – but that the plot in general would be drawing more heavily from the games.
The Tornado plane, a selection of Emeralds, and Death Egg Robots will be putting in appearances. In this writer’s view, that can only be a good thing. The first film was enjoyable enough, but it was also sufficiently generic and paint-by-numbers in its buddy comedy routine that you could basically plug any other classic cartoon character into the role in place of Sonic and it’d work. And, in fact, they have. Many (*cough* Smurfs), many (*splutter* Yogi Bear), many (*hack* Tom and Jerry) times.
So it was very reassuring when a steady stream of trailers began to drop in advance of the April release date, showing off far more unique locales and story beats that will help to make the film more explicitly ‘Sonic’, and, in turn, free it from the cumbersome shackles of Hollywood tropes. As IGN reports, fans have now got even less reason to doubt the fidelity of the second picture in terms of its adherence to the beloved games, as veteran director Jeff Fowler has promised “plenty of references.”
Jeff Fowler spills (a bit) on Sonic 2
As part of IGN Fan Fest, which people tuning in hoping for Frontiers gameplay were bitterly disappointed by, per the norm, Fowler was asked “if there would be any Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 levels or references featured in the sequel movie.” His purposely vague, PR friendly response? “Oh yeah, all kinds.”
“One of them was in the trailer, of course, the bi-plane Tornado. It’s such an iconic visual from Sonic 2,” he chuckled. “The Tornado, first introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, is a prominent part of the Sky Chase Zone, and will hopefully provide a memorable sequence in the movie.”
Though Fowler was not forthcoming on any details beyond what we’ve already seen in existing promotional material, he wasn’t above giving a knowing tease/side-nose-tap. “As we were setting out to plot Sonic 2, we all got really excited about just pulling that great imagery that all the fans are going to get excited about seeing on the big screen, and just creating a real cinematic version of the stuff that fans have loved from Sonic 1 and Sonic 2.” Stuff we love? Well, the minute handful of Labyrinth Zone fans can safely remove that from their wishlist.
Fowler closed out his segment in jovial style. “It’s a great problem to have that there are so many great Easter eggs to incorporate, and this movie is chock full of them,” he reiterates. “I couldn’t even begin to list them because there’s just so much stuff fans get excited about.” And how. Some folks online will clap if the hedgehog so much as sneezes in a particular direction.
How about you? Are there any references you’re especially excited to see? Will you be checking out the movie? Let us know!
Via, IGN.
