Having rushed onto video game screens back in 1991, it was always a wonder why Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog never got his own big screen adventure while Super Mario Bros., Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and Wing Commander did. Well it was announced last year that Sony had accquired the rights to create a live-action/animation hybrid – and now it has a release date.
While we don’t have an exact date, Sonic the Hedgehog’s first foray into cinema territory will happen in 2018.
“Sega Sammy Group is currently planning with Sony Pictures to create a live-action and animation hybrid Sonic The Hedgehog movie scheduled for release in 2018,” Sega president and CEO Hajime Satomi said. “Like with this CG animation production, we would like to expand our business into other entertainment areas beyond what we are currently involved.”
There were plans for a Sonic the Hedgehog movie back in the mid-1990s with Richard Jeffries (Species) penning a script for MGM. The film eventually fell through due to the rushed release of the Sega Saturn and the failure to launch Sonic X-treme.
Flickering Myth’s Luke Owen is writing a book on video game movies, and explores the cancelled Sonic the Hedgehog movie and others with interviews from those involved. Follow him @ThisIsLukeOwen for more information.
Jon Stachewicz says
but why
Mikoto Misaka says
$$$
Luke Owen says
Pretty much. Although this is a franchise that hasn’t really a ‘big earner’ for some time. You’ve got to wonder whether Sony will give this a Rachet & Clank style of release: just a quiet animated movie released in April and not a big summer blockbuster.
PapaSnarf says
SANIC – 2018
fizbanic says
Seriously with history of little success of adapting a video game to a movie they feel that Sonic might have a chance! It was good game but I can’t see them making a movie around a spinning hedgehog and gold rings.
Luke Owen says
Having read the pitch for the movie suggested in 1995, doing a Sonic movie isn’t going to be an easy task. I’m not sure Sega knew how to adapt him then, and they probably have less of an idea now.
Shadow Knight says
Are they planning to make it similar to Sonic X? Because I’m not gonna lie it can work really well if its done right. But it has too many chances that it won’t be good.
Luke Owen says
I think this will get a quieter release to some other video game movies. Like Rachet & Clank more than Warcraft, for example. So, probably no full blown CGI bits and pieces.