Shadow’s New Backstory in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Prepares for the Franchise’s Upcoming Major Villain

The character Shadow the Hedgehog, introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, hints at a significant villain’s entry into the Sonic movie franchise. With his swift arrival, Shadow, a fan-favorite from the Sonic video games, takes center stage. The narrative follows Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles as they confront Shadow. Their initial attempt to defeat him fails, leading to a pivotal alliance between Shadow and Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of Ivo Robotnik.

Although Shadow primarily serves as an antagonist to Team Sonic during the film, he ultimately allies with them against Gerald in the climax of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. While it initially appears that Shadow perishes during the film’s climactic battle on a space station, the second post-credits scene reveals his survival. This leaves the door open for his return in subsequent Sonic movies. Additionally, Shadow’s newly depicted origin hints at the potential for Black Doom to emerge as a formidable villain in future installments.

The Cosmic Origin of Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

A Shift in Shadow’s Backstory

Shadow looking suspiciously over shoulder

Shadow’s origin in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 deviates from his established backstory in the video games. The film reveals that Shadow crash-landed on Earth inside an asteroid 50 years prior to the events of the film. Although the film does not specify his celestial origins, he’s captured and contained by GUN scientists, headed by Gerald Robotnik, who sought to study Shadow’s extraordinary abilities. Following the tragic accident that claimed Maria’s life—Gerald’s granddaughter—Shadow is confined within a test tube for half a century.

In contrast, the canonical video games portray Shadow not as a crash survivor but as a creation of Gerald Robotnik. In this backstory, Shadow was engineered by Gerald on the Space Colony ARK as part of an endeavor to cure Maria’s terminal illness, with “Project Shadow”aiming for immortality. The project was ultimately covered up by GUN, leading to a raid on the ARK and the subsequent death of Maria.

Linking Shadow to Black Doom

Black Doom: Shadow’s Unrecognized Father

Despite the changes to Shadow’s origin in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, connections to the nefarious Black Doom remain relevant. In the Sonic universe, Black Doom is an evil alien leader of the Black Arms, an antagonist force that routinely combats Sonic and his friends. Intriguingly, to create Shadow, Gerald Robotnik arguably made a pact with Black Doom, using the alien’s blood in his experiments. This implies that Shadow could be considered Black Doom’s biological offspring.

In the context of the video games, Black Doom’s ultimate goal revolves around persuading Shadow to aid in the domination of humanity, which rationalizes the theory of him sending Shadow to Earth. While the movie universe does not explicitly confirm any deal between Black Doom and Gerald, the ambiguity surrounding Shadow’s arrival suggests that Black Doom may indeed have orchestrated Shadow’s descent to our planet.

The Anticipation of Black Doom as Sonic the Hedgehog 4’s Villain

The Possibility of Black Doom in Sonic 4

Following the reveal of Shadow’s survival in Sonic 3, speculation arises around Black Doom’s potential role as the antagonist in the forthcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 4. Nevertheless, based on the first post-credits scene of Sonic 3, where both Amy Rose and Metal Sonic are introduced, it appears more plausible that Metal Sonic will take center stage as the villain in the next installment.

Sonic Movies	RT Critics Score
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)	64%
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)	69%
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)	87%

Nonetheless, considering Shadow’s revamped origin in the cinematic universe, it is highly probable that Black Doom will emerge as a central antagonist in either a fifth Sonic film or a standalone Shadow spinoff. Though a spinoff has not been formally announced, it would serve as an ideal platform to delve into the dynamics between Shadow and Black Doom. If such a film is not in the works, Black Doom could also present a compelling threat in Sonic 5, especially as his existence has been subtly hinted at in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

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