The new Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer is packed with moon lasers, Chao’s, and a pair of Eggmen

There is a ton of content to drink in when it comes to the latest Sonic the Hedgehog 3 trailer, including some new villains.

Pikachu callout!

It’s still hard to believe that the Sonic the Hedgehog movies are as much fun as they are. Sure they moved the action to the real-world, but everything from the characters and their relationships to a shocking number of story elements are present. It’s a series that’s become a wonder of modern movie-making. These movies are more or less not ‘reimaginings’, but love letters to the games.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 looks right in line with the previous two films too, as it introduces Shadow. Voiced by Keanu Reeves, Shadow looks every bit the version of the character that we saw in the games, and this new trailer even shows him wielding a pistol.

There is a wholly new element present though, in this new look, and it’s… another Robotnik. Grandpa Eggman is here in Sonic 3, and set to team-up with the younger version of the villain for some Hedgehog-smashing action.

Sonic the Hedgehog returns to the big screen this holiday season in his most thrilling adventure yet. Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet.

Director Jeff Fowler returns along with our all-star cast including Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub, newcomers Alyla Browne and Krysten Ritter, with Keanu Reeves joining the franchise as Shadow the Hedgehog.

Paramount Pictures press release

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 official opens in theaters on December 20th, 2024, but if you’re keen on seeing it a day ahead of time, you’re in luck. That’s because Paramount Pictures is planning an “opening day movie event on Thursday, December 19th”. There fans will be able to catch the flick at 3pm then, at participating theaters.

Just a note there though, as those screenings will be in theaters of the “premium format” type, according to Paramount. That’s to mean that the December 19th screenings will be only held in “Dolby Cinema,4DX, DBOX, SCREENX and other premium format theatres”, according to the company.

Tickets for that special fan event will include more than just the base movie as well. Fans hitting those showings will get to check out behind-the-scenes content prior to the showing, plus take home some physical merch. Up for grabs will be “limited-edition gifts including one of four different limited edition character keychains plus an exclusive 12”x18” collector’s art print”, while supplies last.

Advance tickets for the fan event showings can be found here, while standard tickets for screenings starting on the 20th can be found here.