Keanu Reeves Confirmed as Shadow's Voice in Sonic 3 Movie

Sonic 3 Movie Confirms Keanu Reeves as Shadow

First Official Trailer Might Drop as Early as Next Week

Hollywood icon Keanu Reeves has been officially announced as the voice behind the iconic anti-hero Shadow the Hedgehog in the eagerly awaited Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie. This exciting news was shared via a teaser clip on the Sonic movie's TikTok account. The teaser cleverly played with the word "ForeSHADOWing," followed by a scene of Sonic crossing his fingers. The clip then transitioned to a young Keanu Reeves in Speed, with Sonic joyfully declaring, "Yes! Keanu, you are a national treasure!"

Speculation about Reeves voicing Shadow began months ago, fueled by Shadow's introduction in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, where he was depicted cryogenically frozen in a mysterious facility. Known for his complex character and shifting allegiances, Shadow's role often pits him against Sonic as both a rival and an ally. The dynamic between Sonic and Shadow is expected to be a central theme in the upcoming film, with an official trailer rumored to be released as early as next week.

Ben Schwartz, who lends his voice to Sonic, expressed his excitement in a previous interview with Screen Rant about Shadow's introduction in the sequel. He stated, "I think fans are going to be excited and I think fans understand how much we care about them. We changed the film from the response to the first trailer, which I think was the very right move. I think fans will feel like they're being taken care of, I hope, because we always do it for them, and it hasn’t failed yet."

Alongside Keanu Reeves, the film will see the return of Jim Carrey as Doctor "Eggman" Robotnik, Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Tails, and Idris Elba as Knuckles. Additionally, actress Krysten Ritter will join the cast in a role yet to be disclosed.

The success of the Sonic movie franchise has significantly broadened the appeal of the Sonic brand. In a 2022 interview with VGC, Sonic Team’s Takashi Iizuka highlighted the challenge of catering to both dedicated fans and a new, wider audience, stating, "Because of the success of the movies, we’re finding that we’re reaching into this wider audience of people who maybe never played the game before, or don’t play them that much. It’s this wider group of fans who we need to start now making content for."

With Sonic the Hedgehog 3 set to hit theaters on December 20, fans won't have to wait long to see Sonic, Shadow, and the rest of the crew in action.