Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Reportedly in the Works for a Spring 2027 Release

While this will likely come as no surprise, Variety reports that Paramount Pictures is already looking ahead to Sonic the Hedgehog 4 with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hitting theaters on Friday (Dec. 20). Paramount is currently aiming at a spring 2027 release date for the upcoming sequel. As expected, plot details on Sonic the Hedgehog 4 are being kept under wraps, but the amazing reveals in the upcoming third film will likely tease the direction of where the franchise will go next.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is currently tracking for a strong box office opening this weekend, and it’s expected to open ahead of Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King, a new chapter of the iconic Lion King film franchise. Sonic 3 is currently projected to open anywhere from $55-$60 million for its opening weekend, which would be about on part to the first film’s non-holiday opening weekend in 2020 with $58 million. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 opened with $72 million for its first weekend in April 2022.

The good news for Sonic 3‘s box office is that it has the Christmas and New Year’s holidays ahead to give its box office an extra boost. Variety notes that the sequel is currently looking to be a strong holiday hit for the studio, hence why the studio is already looking to prep future installments. The threequel will open in 52 markets on Christmas day, and it’s already scoring well with critics with a current 86% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic 2 have earned a combined $725.2 million at the global box office, along with an $180 million in consumer spending from entertainment rentals and digital purchases. The franchise also received its first television spinoff earlier this year, with the Paramount+ exclusive miniseries, Knuckles, featuring Idris Elba reprising his role voicing the eponymous echidna warrior.

Based on the iconic Sega video game franchise, Sonic 3 is directed by Jeff Fowler, who also helmed the first two films. Jim Carrey reprises his role as Dr. Ivo Robotnik and also portrays the new character, Ivo’s grandfather Dr. Gerald Robotnik. Sonic is voiced once again by Ben Schwartz, with Colleen O’Shaughnessey voicing Tails. Keanu Reeves joins the cast voicing Shadow the Hedgehog; another character with spinoff potential for the franchise, as he’s received his own self-titled starring video game from Sega.

Other cast members include James Marsden and Tika Sumpter, who are also back from the first two films. New cast members also include Krysten Ritter and Alyla Browne. Be sure to stay tuned for 411’s official review of the film, which will be hitting the site around midnight.