Idris Elba joins the cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 as Knuckles the Echidna. Considering the negative buzz that swarmed Paramount's Sonic the Hedgehog when the first trailer was released, few could have predicted it would become a major hit. After overcoming backlash surrounding the initial design of the titular speedster, Sonic the Hedgehog won audiences over with its fun spin on the classic video game and proceeded to gross $320 million worldwide in early 2020. It was no surprise when Paramount greenlit a sequel months later.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is slated for release in April of next year and will feature the returning Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic. The early synopsis for the movie revealed Sonic will once again face the evil Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) as he searches for the Chaos Emerald. In a move that is sure to please fans of the games, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will introduce both Tails and Knuckles, key members of the Sonic cast. While Tails was glimpsed at the end of the first movie, little has been revealed about Knuckles.
Until now, at least. On Tuesday, Idris Elba confirmed he's set to voice Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. He shared the news with a close up shot of the character's closed fist, which of course features those familiar pointy knuckles. "Knock knock...." Elba wrote, making for a tantalizing tease. Check out the post below.
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Previously, Jason Momoa was reportedly in the running to voice Knuckles, which only makes Elba's casting more surprising. Elba is fresh off last weekend's release of The Suicide Squad and will next be seen in the Netflix feature The Harder They Fall later this year. He's previously lent his voice to movies like Zootopia and Finding Dory, but it's Knuckles that will probably elicit the most excitement among fans. In the games, Knuckles starts off as Sonic's enemy before becoming one of his biggest allies, and it seems likely that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will follow this trajectory.
In terms of the live-action cast, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will also star James Marsden and Tika Sumpter, both of whom appeared in the first movie. Newcomers include Natasha Rothwell and Shemar Moore. As for the role of Tails, Sonic video game star Colleen O'Shaughnessey reprised her role for the end-credits scene. Whether she will return for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 remains to be seen, though the casting of Elba as Knuckles makes one wonder if Paramount is interested in upping the movie's star power. Expect more updates for the highly-anticipated sequel to emerge in the coming months.
Source: Idris Elba/Twitter
