Paramount’s previously announced Sonic the Hedgehog spinoff TV series, starring Idris Elba as Knuckles, is officially underway.

Fans that saw the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog 2 film are already familiar with Elba as Knuckles the Echidna, which he starred alongside the blue blur himself Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles ‘Tails’ Prower.

Story wise, the new series will take place between the events of the second animated film and the forthcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 film, which is set to premiere on December 20th, 2024 (thanks, Variety).

The new series will star Elba as Knuckles, who “agrees to train Wade as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior,” as confirmed by the series tagline. This certainly opens the series up to a “cinematic universe”, as previously teased by its showrunners.

Adam Pally is returning to play Wade Whipple, the scruffy underdog cop from the films alongside Tika Sumpter, who guest stars in her role as Maddie from the films. Sonic’s co-star, Tom Wachowski (played by James Marsden) is currently absent.

The supporting cast includes Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones), Julian Barratt (Mindhorn), Scott Mescudi (Don’t Look Up), and Ellie Taylor (Ted Lasso), all of whom will reappear throughout the series. Rory McCann (Game of Thrones) is guest starring.

More casting will be confirmed later yet production is already underway now in London. The pilot for Knuckles was written by Sonic the Hedgehog 2 screenwriter John Whittington, who also serves as head writer and executive producer. Brian Schacter and James Madejski are also co-writers.

Director on both the live-action films, Jeff Fowler, is directing the pilot episode and also serves as executive producer on the series. Paramount Pictures and Sega of America are also producing the series.

The original Sonic the Hedgehog movie was released in 2020 and its sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, was released back in April 2022.