Sonic fans are going to be eating most gluttonously in 2022. Not only is the release of Sonic Frontiers (probably… possibly… potentially) hitting this holiday season, but we’re only two months away from the debut of his second theatrical outing. Pedantically speaking, it’s his fifth in the past ten years – counting as I do the original film and his cameo turns in Wreck-it Ralph 1 and 2 and Ready Player One – but this sequel marks a far bigger series landmark than that. Not only is it evidence that video game films can and will be franchised so long as they’re done halfway decently (well done, Lara – bye again, Lara) but it’ll be the first time we see mainstays Tails and Knuckles on the big screen.
The first Sonic movie was just mandatory Alvin and the Chipmunks style table setting. Generic buddy comedy movie to rope the masses into theatre seats, ’twas a necessary evil. However, this time, we’re going full-on hedgehog lore. Angel Island, the Master Emerald, the Tornado, Badniks, and Dreamcast era references aplenty. You know what, James Marsden? You can just park it over there and let these technicolor mammalian legends do their thing. Your salary is eating into the CG budget.
New trailer action
The initial poster and trailer for the movie were more than enough to drum up waves of hype within the traditionally hyperactive fanbase, and now, as Polygon reports, we’ve got yet more fuel to throw on that ever-burning fire. Paramount Pictures splashed for an ad spot branded around the hotly coveted Super Bowl commercial break, which released earlier today. The game, for sports fans, happens this Sunday. I shan’t be tuning in, for the record. In the ad, we see Sonic and Knuckles brawling, from an awesome 2D perspective, over the Emeralds. If we don’t get a “damn FOURTH Chaos Emerald” gag, capitalisation not my own, I’m going to be extremely disappointed.
Take a look at the spot below:
Other enticing sights in the new trailer include more footage of resident ham Jim Carrey as Dr. Eggman, Sonic and co. speeding down an Ice Cap-esque ski slope, and perhaps most goosebump-inducingly, a gigantic, computer generated – and expensive-looking – Death Egg Robot, as seen in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. And a metric tonne of other games since, angling for nostalgia dollars.
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When does Sonic 2 come out?
Beyond these tasty morsels, there isn’t a lot else new here. You get your standard trailer-fodder action scenes, and the obligatory pop culture quip, this one concerning Bucky Barnes from Marvel (topical…?). It’s likely fairly representative of what we can expect from the final film: fast-paced, gorgeously rendered, but with a pervasive undercurrent of cheese. And at the end of the day, is that not Sonic all over? The loveable blue bugger.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 hits cinemas globally on April 8th. Unless, of course, you live in the Phillippines, in which case you apparently get it a bit earlier. Kindly don’t spoil the inevitable Shadow post-credits scene for us Westeners.
Are you hyped for the movie? Let us know!
Via, Polygon.
