Sonic 2: a sequel in the works

Dominik Bärlocher

29.5.2020

Translation: machine translated

Sonic, the film will have a sequel. We don't yet know the details of the project. But the signal is clear: good films that all look the same but are entertaining have their place in Hollywood.

Sonic will once again face off against Ivo Robotnik, his nemesis. Variety magazine confirms this and quotes a statement from Paramount and Sega Sammy, producers of the first part of the film. As executive producers are Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher and Toru Nakahara, as well as Hajime Satomi, Haruki Satomi and Tim Miller.

It is not yet known whether Jim Carey, Ben Schwartz and James Marsden will return in the lead roles of Ivo Robotnik, Sonic and Tom. Shooting and production dates have yet to be revealed.

But the announcement gives hope and I can't help but note that a film inspired by a video game will have a sequel. Better still: a good video game adaptation will have a sequel despite the chaotic production history of the first film.

We do, however, have it on good authority that Vancouver studio The Moving Picture Company, which was responsible for the animation design and all the special effects shots in the first film.

The first film's animators are broke

Sonic, the film got off to a disastrous start. The hero of the film looked like this:

Internet was first shocked, then angry, then amused. That's when director Jeff Fowler saved the film with a Tweet.

Translation:

The consequence of all this: titanic work. So the Vancouver office of the Moving Picture Company (MPC) was promptly ordered to reinvent an already nearly finished film to make Sonic true to its image. Jeff Fowler has spoken. And he was probably backed by the studio, which feared for its revenues.

After dozens of hours of hard night work, Sonic was on top, the film was an unexpected success and broke records. Sonic, the movie had the best opening weekend ever for a video game adaptation.

But MPC Vancouver has sold out on 11 December 2019. Could it be Sonic at the root of the Vancouver studio's problems? Or could it be Cats? Neither. It would be the fault of "increasing pressure from the outside market in Vancouver and more attractive opportunities elsewhere", as Christian Roberton, executive vice president of MPC's film and TV division, writes.

Warning: the specialist magazine CartoonBrew states that the authenticity of this message cannot be guaranteed.

Success before failure

Sonic, the film was not only a financial success, but also with fans, children and critics.

Sonic is funny, and you can feel a good chemistry between the actors. Although the jokes are sometimes juvenile and facile, they generally work. The homages to video games are lovingly done and after 99 minutes of refreshing entertainment, you walk out of the theatre satisfied having seen a funny film. Sonic, the movie, part one, will never win any major awards, but it has succeeded where many have failed: an entertaining film.

So the sequel inspires high hopes.

Dominik Bärlocher

Senior Editor

dominik.baerlocher@digitecgalaxus.ch

Journalist. Author. Hacker. A storyteller searching for boundaries, secrets and taboos – putting the world to paper. Not because I can but because I can’t not.