Ben Schwartz Reflects on “Ugly Sonic” Start to Franchise: “A Film That Really Listens to Fans”

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As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I must admit that the story of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is one for the books. The journey from “Ugly Sonic” to this highly-anticipated trilogy finale is a testament to the power of fan feedback and the willingness of studios to listen.

As a passionate gamer, I can hardly contain my excitement for the upcoming launch of “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”! Reflecting on its past, I recall the early days when the character, voiced by Ben Schwartz, was known as “Ugly Sonic.” It’s fascinating to see how far our favorite speedster has come since then.

In 2019, when the trailer for the initial film of the franchise premiered, fans’ reactions were swiftly negative, criticizing Sonic’s appearance, especially his human-like teeth. The criticism was so severe that the production team promised to redesign the character and pushed back the movie’s premiere by three months.

Sometimes, a small nudge is required for one to truly examine oneself and take stock of the feedback, especially from fans. And that’s exactly what we did,” Schwartz said at the Los Angeles premiere of Sonic 3 on Monday, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s not common to find a movie that genuinely considers fan input, with the studio investing resources to alter it for the sake of improvement. I can hardly think of an instance where this has happened before, if at all.

Director Jeff Fowler, responsible for all three films in the series, commented, “From the ashes of ‘Unattractive Sonic’ emerged this stunning trilogy of movies, like a phoenix reborn. It was a tough decision, but yes, thank you ‘Unattractive Sonic,’ for the cherished moments we shared.” To drum up excitement for the upcoming film, Paramount Pictures is organizing a contest offering an ‘Unattractive Sonic’ Christmas sweater as a prize.

As a gamer, I’m excitedly looking forward to diving back into the world of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, where I reunite with my old pals Sonic, Knuckles (voiced by none other than Idris Elba), and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey). This time, however, we face a formidable new foe – Shadow (Keanu Reeves), an enigmatic baddie with powers that make previous adversaries seem like walkovers. Jim Carrey, James Marsden, Adam Pally, and Natasha Rothwell join the stellar cast for this adventure. Marsden praises Keanu, stating, “He’s the best! He fits this character so perfectly because he excels at playing that brooding, mysterious role, yet his warmth and goodness shine through, making him a perfect fit for the part.

Schwartz playfully stated that following the inclusion of more high-profile actors for each movie, he’s aiming to secure Daniel Day-Lewis for the fourth film: “I don’t know what I’d be up to if we can’t get DDL in 4.

Fowler also shared his thoughts on the future of Sonic, the iconic video game character, stating, “With Sonic being around for 30 years, there are numerous beloved characters that could be incorporated into this cinematic universe. We select those that we believe have a compelling story and can lead our movie world in captivating and intriguing new directions. The potential is limitless, and for now, I’ll simply enjoy tonight’s third film installment before deciding the next steps.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hits theaters on Friday.

Ash Crossan contributed to this report.

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2024-12-17 20:25