Sonic 3 director shares first concept art from the movie featuring Shadow and Maria – and our hearts are already breaking

2024-12-02

EntertainmentMoviesAction MoviesSonic the Hedgehog 3Sonic 3 director shares first concept art from the movie featuring Shadow and Maria – and our hearts are already breakingWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Paramount)

Shadow and Maria in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Sonic the Hedgehog 3director Jeff Fowler has unveiled the first original concept art for the upcoming threequel – and it involves Shadow and Maria.

As you can see below, the artwork sees Gerald Robotnik’s granddaughter Maria and Shadow coming face to face, with the latter in a giant test tube.

“Our #SonicMovie3 journey began here… this was the FIRST piece of concept art we created for the film,” Fowlerwrote on Twitter. “The story of Shadow & Maria is one of the most important in the entire Sonic Universe and we knew we had to make it GREAT”

Our #SonicMovie3 journey began here… this was the FIRST piece of concept art we created for the film. The story of Shadow & Maria is one of the most important in the entire Sonic Universe and we knew we had to make it GREAT ❤️🖤💛💙 pic.twitter.com/ELX3WnZq1ENovember 29, 2024

While we won’t head into spoiler territory here, it’s likely that Sonic 3 will play with our emotions if it mirrors the events of 2001’s Sonic Adventure 2 (which the threequel isalready taking heavily fromand appears to be loosely adapting).

Notice, too, the slightly rounder eyes on Shadow. It’s a design choice that is seemingly reflected in the finished version; it appears that Shadow is more friendly and Sonic-like in appearance when around Maria – and their tragic history would indicate why he’s now turned intoa trash-talking, gun-toting hedgehog.

It’s unclear how much Maria will factor into the movie itself but her grandfather, Gerald, is going to play a considerable role in Sonic 3.

Speaking to SFX, Jeff Fowler said Jim Carrey (who is pulling double duty as both Robotniks) even contributed to Gerald’s design.

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

“For him to create a whole new character within the world was certainly an exciting opportunity, and he just went all in,” Fowler revealed. “No detail was too small. He helped design the prosthetics and everything. Talking about things to wrap your head around, having made three films with Jim Carrey, that’s a real mindbender.”

Sonic 3 stars Ben Schwartz, Keanu Reeves, Jim Carrey, Idris Elba, James Marsden, Krysten Ritter, Tika Sumpter, and Colleen O’Shaughnessey. It’s set to hit cinemas on December 20 in the US and December 21 in the UK.

For more, check out theupcoming video game moviesracing your way very soon.

More about action moviesThe 33 greatest post-credits scenesThe secret’s out: Christopher Nolan’s new Tom Holland-led movie is an Odyssey adaptation and a “mythic action epic shot across the world"Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest►

More about action movies

The 33 greatest post-credits scenesThe secret’s out: Christopher Nolan’s new Tom Holland-led movie is an Odyssey adaptation and a “mythic action epic shot across the world”

Jason Statham in Fast & Furious 6

The 33 greatest post-credits scenes

The secret’s out: Christopher Nolan’s new Tom Holland-led movie is an Odyssey adaptation and a “mythic action epic shot across the world”

Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"See more latest►

Latest

26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time”

Promo artwork for Colin McCrae Rally 2005 showing a car jumping above desert sands

26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time”

See more latest►

Most Popular

Elder Scrolls modders have released a playable part of the ambitious Project Tamriel, which aims to recreate all of the beloved RPG’s regions in Morrowind

Disney Plus' new Spider-Man show is no longer canon in the MCU because it was “not fun” to put limitations on its story

Master Chief’s absence from Halo Wars wasn’t Bungie’s fault, it was a move to make players “care about everybody else” in the RTS

One of Sonic 3’s writers threatens us with a good time in a future movie: “We gotta get Big the Cat in there in some capacity”

This nifty gadget turns any M.2 SSD into a portable drive, but it’s great for when you’re upgrading your PC too

League of Legends co-creator responds to report that Arcane was a “financial miss,” says “people think we make things like Arcane to sell skins, when in reality we sell skins to make things like Arcane”

After hours of number-crunching, one Marvel Rivals player has laid out the true meta – and Iron Fist’s ranking feels alarming

James Gunn says his DC shows will likely stick to the “one episode a week” schedule moving forward: “It affords a quality show an opportunity to be discussed”

Just two weeks after its theatrical release, Lord of the Ring: The War of Rohirrim is heading to digital

Escape the horrors of family time this holiday with Slitterhead’s first ever discount

GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

Squid Game season 2

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Contents