Paramount Pictures is tripling down on its hit big screen treatment of the iconic video game hero, revealing a December 20, 2024 release date for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, taking over the slot previously allocated for the next Smurfs outing.
The threequel was confirmed in February, and will continue the live-aciton/CG character hybrid adventures of the Blue Blur (voiced by Ben Schwartz) and small town cop Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) as they face off against the villainous Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) and baddies like Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) with the help of allies both human and anthropomorphic, including Sonic’s video game partner Tails (voiced by Colleen O’Shaughnessey).
The firs two Sonic the Hedgehog Movies were both directed by Jeff Fowler and grossed worldwide box offices of $319.7 million (2020) and $400M+ (2022). With the holiday ’24 release date, Sonic 3 will be opening against James Cameron’s Avatar 3 in a battle of the hybrid blockbusters.
The studio has also shuffled its Untitled Smurfs Animated Musical — the first in a multi-picture partnership between Paramount, IMPS and LAFIG Belgium — down the road to February 14, 2025, preparing a sweet Valentine’s treat for families. Chris Miller (Shrek the Third, Puss in Boots) is attached to direct the Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation production from a script by Pam Brady (South Park, Team America: World Police), inspired by the beloved Peyo characters.
The untitled project will launch a new Smurfs movie era, following the trio of CGI flicks from Sony in 2011, 2013 and 2017.
The Paramount Animation slate also features the recently titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Aug. 4, 2023), PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (Oct. 13, 2023), The Tiger’s Apprentice (Dec. 20, 2023) and an untitled Transformers movie (July 19, 2024).
[Source: Deadline]
