UPDATE: Original photos taken from the set were removed from this article at the request of BackGrid USA, Inc., a licensing company that buys up the licensing rights for the photos so they can have exclusive coverage.
Photos and videos from the on-set production of the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 movie have shown Knuckles will be part of the film; along with GUN.
As previously reported, the new live-action movie is a sequel to the 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog. Based on the announcement teaser trailer and a post-credit scene at the end of the first film, Miles “Tails” Prower the fox was all but confirmed to appear. Now, new shots from the set of the film confirm Knuckles the Echidna will also be present.
In photos obtained by Ken (@pursuit23, sold to Just Jared), the filming in Vancouver, Canada has utilized life-sized models of the soon to be CGI anthropomorphic heroes. This is so actors and actresses such as James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, and Jim Carrey (Dr. Robotnik) have a reference for where the characters will be in the final scene.
Ken’s unwatermarked photos still spread on Twitter like wildfire, especially that of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. Eagle-eyed fans may notice Knuckles is lacking the white necklace-like markings around his torso. Given the infamous reaction to the initial trailer of the first film and subsequent redesign, we imagine this small detail will be present on the CGI model.
Videos and photos have also surfaced online. These include a helicopter with what is likely a GUN logo [1, 2]. In Sonic Adventure 2, the Guardian United Nation (also known as Guardian Units of Nations in other media) are a worldwide military force, attempting to protect the world from Dr. Eggman and other major threats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K7k1AEr4pU
While it is likely to be a jetpack or other technology that will be added with CGI (perhaps lifted into the air holding onto a helicopter or similar), Robotnik’s adventures across worlds or the movie itself may see him tap into some amazing power. We also see him standing outside a coffee shop with a reference to Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine.
While Sonic is voiced by Ben Schwartz, Tails was voiced by Colleen O’Shaughnessey in his cameo in the first film. O’Shaughnessey was Tails voice actress in the mainline games, until Roger Craig Smith and others announced they would no longer voicing Sonic the Hedgehog characters. Mike Pollock, Dr. Eggman’s voice actor, will remain however.
Who do you think among Hollywood’s elite should voice Tails and Knuckles? Does GUN mean future movies may include Shadow the Hedgehog? Sound off in the comments below!
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 premiers April 8th, 2022. In case you missed it, you can find our review for the first film here (we recommend it!)
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Image: Twitter