The beloved characters Tails and Team Sonic face astonishing challenges in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Voice actress Colleen O’Shaughnessey reprised her role as the endearing fox hero, a character she has previously portrayed in both the prior film and the iconic SEGA games. Recently, ScreenRant had the opportunity to chat with O’Shaughnessey, delving into her experience returning for this cinematic threequel and her thoughts regarding the future trajectory of the franchise, including whether she envisions reprising other significant roles from the games in upcoming Sonic films.
The narrative of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 unfolds sometime after its predecessor, showcasing Sonic and friends as they encounter Shadow, a formidable hedgehog who has been frozen for 50 years and seeks vengeance based on past traumas. During their perilous journey, Sonic, played by Ben Schwartz, alongside Idris Elba’s Knuckles and O’Shaughnessey’s Tails, will find their friendship tested as they confront life-threatening circumstances.
In addition to O’Shaughnessey’s return, the film features Schwartz, Elba, and the iconic Jim Carrey reprising his dual role as Ivo Robotnik and his grandfather, Gerald. Notably, Keanu Reeves makes his franchise debut as Shadow. Emerging as a major box-office success, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has attained remarkable accolades, establishing itself as the highest-rated video game adaptation on Rotten Tomatoes and the most lucrative entry in the series.
As anticipation builds for the movie’s digital release, ScreenRant’s interview with Colleen O’Shaughnessey explored various aspects ranging from Tails’ adventures since the last film to the tremendous success of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and what lies ahead for the franchise.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3’s Record-Setting Success Is More Than A Welcome Surprise
“…it is so fantastic.”
The genre of video game adaptations has witnessed a renaissance lately, a trend partly attributed to the success of the first Sonic the Hedgehog film, which followed the path paved by Detective Pikachu. While Sonic the Hedgehog 3 may not have surpassed the financial milestones of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, it stands tall as one of the most successful entries within its genre and the franchise itself. O’Shaughnessey expresses immense gratitude towards fans for their unwavering support:
Colleen O’Shaughnessey: Unbelievable, it is so fantastic. My jaw just literally drops, I go, “What?!”I mean, it’s so fantastic. But you’re right, it is the best one, they just keep getting better and better.
Some Insights on Tails and Agent Stone’s Dynamic
“…you just want to squeeze him, he’s so cute.”
With an impressive CGI budget of $122 million, the team behind Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has put considerable effort into creating visually stunning animated characters. Tails, in particular, is portrayed with heightened expressiveness, whether reacting to Knuckles’ amusing quips or curiously observing Dr. Robotnik at work. O’Shaughnessey attributes this success to the animators, emphasizing that she does not participate in motion capture for her role:
Colleen O’Shaughnessey: You know, we don’t do mo-cap, so I would love to think that it’s due to me. [Laughs] I’m not there for that process of creating his face and all of that. They do record [when I’m doing sessions], they have video, but, yeah, they’re just brilliant, is what they are. And also the script, it calls for more of him, and you just want to hug him. They do such a wonderful job with him. He’s so fluffy, and you just want to squeeze him, he’s so cute.
An intriguing development occurs as Sonic and his crew find themselves reluctantly teaming up with Robotnik and Agent Stone to investigate Shadow’s emergence. Tails and Stone also develop a light-hearted rapport during their time together. When asked about this unexpected connection, O’Shaughnessey highlights the chemistry between the two characters:
Colleen O’Shaughnessey: Maybe because they’re the closest ones to their counterpart, you know? They’re both the second in command, if you will. They’re the sidekick, so sidekicks unite.
Future Aspirations for Tails in the Franchise
A Personal Headcanon for Tails’ Continued Adventures
Despite being a constant presence in the franchise since his debut in the post-credits scene of the first film, Tails has yet to embark on a standalone adventure. He made an appearance in the Knuckles spinoff, accompanying another character on a road trip. Reflecting on what Tails may have been doing in the interim, O’Shaughnessey presents a charming theory:
Colleen O’Shaughnessey: I think he’s been playing with Ozzy in the backyard, and having some family time. He’s been alone, and I think becoming part of that family, it was a big deal for him, so perhaps that’s what he’s doing. And he’s probably happy to have Knuckles off on a road trip, to get a little space. He’s probably helping repair holes and things that Knuckles made in the house.
After a harrowing journey throughout the film, Sonic and his friends conclude their adventure with a peaceful camping trip post their triumphant efforts to save the world. As a fourth movie is confirmed for a Spring 2027 release, O’Shaughnessey has her sights set on innovative developments for Tails, although she hasn’t received any substantial updates regarding the sequel’s production:
I want to see more and more gadgets. He has come up with some brilliant ones already. More gadgets, a more integral part of the team – I think he is already an integral part of the team, but taking it even to the next levels. I feel like he’s finding so much more confidence, and he’s really coming into his own and having his own ideas, too. So, maybe having the confidence to step up and come up with solutions. I have not [heard any updates], that’s the first [I’ve heard]. I mean, I knew that it’s slated for Spring of ’27. And I’ve had family members ask me, “So when do you start?”
I’m always last, because they do all the live-action first. So I’m always like, “Wow, I don’t even know if they have a script,”because I’m the last one to know anything. So, that would be great. Thank goodness, if they were starting in February, goodness. But I know they’ve got stuff mapped out, I’m sure, they’re so smart about it. They know so much about the universe, I’m sure they have lots of plans that I’ll find out way later. But if they start filming in February, they probably won’t get me ’till, I don’t know, end of summer, mid summer, fall, maybe.
The Role of Humans in Sonic’s Narrative
A Wish For Future Character Appearances
Whereas the first film presented a buddy-comedy dynamic focused on James Marsden’s Tom and Sonic, the subsequent installments have gradually diminished the screen time of human characters, honing in on the primary trio of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. Jim Carrey’s Robotnik and Lee Majdoub’s Agent Stone have maintained a needed human presence. Discussing the potential for a Sonic film devoid of human characters, O’Shaughnessey remains open yet advocates for their inclusion:
Colleen O’Shaughnessey: I mean, is it possible? Absolutely. You could do something with just the characters in this world. But I feel like this last movie, they did such a great job of balancing the two, so if they continue on their pattern, my guess is they’ll continue to do that. I think it does lend something to it. It definitely takes it out of a video game, and really helps ground it into a more real-world situation, if that makes sense. So, like I said, I feel like they really did a great job of balancing, and could they keep adding more and more characters? For sure, there’s definitely enough characters to go around. But I think they’ll keep it with both. But what do I know? They don’t tell me anything. [Chuckles] And Wade cracks me up.
On the topic of introducing new characters to the franchise, O’Shaughnessey also lends her voice to Charmy Bee, a member of the Chaotix, who has seen a resurgence in game appearances. Eager to explore the possibility of portraying Charmy in a future film or series, she expresses an enthusiastic desire:
Colleen O’Shaughnessey: I mean, how cool would that be to get to have two characters? There’s been more Charmy in the games of late, so I feel like don’t count anything out. Who knows, that would be amazing. I would love it. I think that would be so very cool.
Overview of Sonic The Hedgehog 3
In this latest thrill ride, Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite to confront a new villain, Shadow, a mysterious hedgehog possessing unprecedented powers. Team Sonic must form unexpected alliances to thwart Shadow’s plans and safeguard their world. Keanu Reeves joins the star-studded cast, voicing the enigmatic Shadow the Hedgehog.
- Ben Schwartz
- Jim Carrey
- James Marsden & Tika Sumpter
- Colleen O’Shaughnessey & Krysten Ritter (Pre-Release)
- Lee Majdoub (Pre-Release)
- Jeff Fowler (Pre-Release)
- Cast & Crew Red Carpet Premiere
- Writers Pat Casey & Josh Miller
- Lee Majdoub (Post-Release)
- Jeff Fowler (Post-Release)
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is currently available for digital rental or purchase, with physical releases set for 4K Ultra-HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on April 15!
Source: ScreenRant Plus
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