Keanu Reeves will voice Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but the actor appeared in the franchise years before being cast as the popular antihero.
Shortly after news circulated that Reeves would be playing Shadow the Hedgehog in the upcoming sequel, fans recalled the actor had already made a cameo in the movie universe once before. It came in the first film when Sonic spots Reeves in the 1994 action-thriller Speed, to which he says: "Keanu! You are a national treasure."
KEANU REEVES IS A NATIONAL TREASURE. 👏 pic.twitter.com/PSfOB8CIfx
— Cy 🔜 C2E2 (@Cybrid101) April 15, 2024
The full circle moment of Reeves getting a shoutout in the first film, only to later be cast in the third Sonic movie, prompted people to share their hopes and visions for Shadow's appearance. Some wanted to see a callback to the original movie moment, while others shared mash-ups of Shadow and Reeves' other popular characters.
"I hope we get a post credit scene of Sonic and Shadow chilling watching TV and Sonic is freaked out by how Shadow sounds exactly like Keanu on TV," one person proposed on X/Twitter. "Shadow doesn't get it, so they switch channels to Park and Recreation, to which Shadow is shook by how Sonic sounds like Ben Schwartz."
Breathtaking, isn’t it? pic.twitter.com/KzMWMP0Q7R
— Apple Slipper (@AppleSlipper) April 15, 2024
I hope we get a post credit scene of Sonic and Shadow chilling watching TV and Sonic is freaked out by how Shadow sounds exactly like Keanu on TV, Shadow doesn’t get it, so they switch channels to Park and Recreation, to which Shadow is shook by how Sonic sounds like Ben Schwartz https://t.co/4Z7B9NYpKA
— Anny Mation (@MationMiss) April 15, 2024
please let sonic break the 4th wall when he hears shadow talk https://t.co/qi7EhEjJxh
— Cloud (@cloudchairwheel) April 15, 2024
If Sonic doesn't look Shadow dead in the eyes and say "you sound like Keanu Reeves" what's even the point
— ⚡Natalie Haines🌟Lightningstar1389⚡ (@Ls1389) April 15, 2024
Chaos Control or something idk https://t.co/9KsPqXQRmd pic.twitter.com/vs3gwFFH5v
— shiro @ Dokomi (@ShirotaniArt) April 15, 2024
poorly made edit buuut this was my first thought when I heard that keanu is voicing shadow 😭 #sonicmovie3 pic.twitter.com/u6kBBxnepS
— johnzuu (@johnzu_) April 15, 2024
Warning: Spoiler for the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 below.
The post-credits scene for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 teased the highly anticipated introduction of Shadow the Hedgehog, and no doubt he will have a big role in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, as Alyla Browne recently confirmed that she is playing Maria Robotnik, a pivotal character in Shadow's backstory, in the next movie.
Shadow was revealed for the first time behind closed doors at CinemaCon 2024, though fans will have to wait a little longer to see the movie's version of the fearsome hedgehog for themselves. When exactly that first look will arrive is unknown, but Sonic the Hedgehog 3 debuts in theaters on December 20, 2024.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter @AdeleAnkers.
source https://www.ign.com/articles/sonic-the-hedgehog-movie-seemingly-foreshadowed-keanu-reeves-involvement