Sonic the Hedgehog 2 could introduce Knuckles the Echidna, but which actor should voice the classic video game character? After a rough start with the studio's initial Sonic character design, Sonic the Hedgehog won over fans with its humor and more game-accurate Sonic design. Since then, Sonic the Hedgehog had the most successful debut for a movie based on a video game. Sonic the Hedgehog's post-credits scene introduces Tails, another anthropomorphic animal character Tails, into the universe, looking for Sonic. If Sonic the Hedgehog is adding more video game characters into the universe, they should absolutely introduce Knuckles in Sonic 2.
Related: What To Expect From Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Knuckles the Echidna is one of Sonic's most notable characters. The last of his tribe, Knuckles dedicated his life to protecting the all-powerful Master Emerald. While Knuckles becomes one of Sonic's closest friends, he has also fought Sonic on multiple occasions. In Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Knuckles' first appearance, Dr. Eggman tricks Knuckles into believing Sonic wanted to steal all the Chaos Emeralds. There's a lot, then, that a Sonic movie could do with the addition of Knuckles.
While Knuckles is more serious than Sonic, there's also an element of playfulness to the character. Knuckles is a cartoon character entering into a kid-friendly PG movie. His headstrong instincts can make for a goofy, ultra-macho character, like early Buzz Lightyear from the Toy Story series. In this vein, there are plenty of actors with big movies under their belt who can strike a balance between serious and comical. Here are some of the strongest talents who would make great choices for voicing Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic 2.
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves has enjoyed a great resurgence in the past few years. The star of The Matrix rose to prominence once again as the titular lethal assassin in the John Wick film series. He also plays Duke Caboom in Toy Story 4, and Sage in the upcoming animated movie The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.
Not only is Keanu Reeves an excellent action star, but he also doesn't take himself too seriously. Part of Sonic the Hedgehog's charm is how much fun actors like Ben Schwartz and Jim Carrey are having with the roles. While a lot of Reeves' characters are gritty men of action, like Neo or John Wick, he also has a goofy side that softens him. This blend of action and comedy is the exact tone needed for Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Duke Caboom in Toy Story 4 shows how Reeves finds that balance, as he plays the comically cheesy Canadian stunt driver; he's funny, thinks himself cool, can come off as silly, but ultimately is a daring figure. Reeves manages to expertly play action characters that fit into light-hearted animated worlds, which is exactly what the voice actor for Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 would need.
Winston Duke
Winston Duke is a fantastic actor who has been in plenty of big-budget action movies. Duke plays M'Baku in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Hawk in Netflix's upcoming blockbuster Spenser Confidential. He's a star on the rise and, while he hasn't done an animated project ye, no one can question Duke's acting chops, as his live-action roles prove he's an asset to any ensemble.
Along with that, Duke's role as the father in Us is a perfect example of the gruff & goofy duality necessary for voicing Knuckles. He brings both the family man Gabe Wilson and the terrifying Abraham to life with his two-handed performance. Knuckles has these same kind of characteristics - he's a fiercely loyal protector, and more than ready to jump into a fight, but can be comedic as well. If the movie introduces Knuckles as a friend-turned-enemy, that character trajectory will lead to the same character beats Duke hits with his two Us characters. If Jordan Peele chose to trust Duke and strike this balance, the Sonic 2 team should take note when casting Knuckles.
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman is best known for his 17 years playing X-Men character Wolverine. In many ways, Jackman's Wolverine is the perfect example of who Knuckles should be in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Wolverine is a serious loner in a colorful world, begrudgingly teaming up with others to take down the bad guys. It's that mix of a self-serious character in a comical universe that Jackman totally nails.
Along with his live-action work, Jackman has starred in several animated movies. He lent his voice to Rise of the Guardians, Missing Link, and an incredible Logan ADR session. Jackman plays a lot of action-loving heroes, especially ones who love to scrap. In some ways, Knuckles is the closest thing to an animated Wolverine, from the gritty, more isolated personality down to the spikes in his hands. This would provide Jackman a great way to build up a new character in a franchise while revisiting characteristics that made his Wolverine so iconic.
Sam Rockwell
Over the past few years, Sam Rockwell has been playing the same type of "racist with a heart of gold" character. He won his Oscar for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and played similar roles in movies like The Best Of Enemies and Jojo Rabbit. Rockwell has since expressed that he's done playing these kinds of characters, so Knuckles seems like a good place to start.
Before his recent trend of character choices, Rockwell starred as a CGI guinea pig secret agent in the PG action movie G-Force. He plays Darwin, the serious team leader most dedicated to the mission. Darwin is more relaxed than Knuckles, but he is in conflict with fellow guinea pig & complete goofball Hurley during the movie. This dynamic is roughly the same as the one Knuckles has Sonic, though they start off more at odds than Darwin and Hurley. Paired with Rockwell's history of enemies that soften during their journey, there's a lot of experience that fits directly into playing Knuckles, while the actor has proved himself versatile and great at stepping into just about any character role.
Mark Hamill
Mark Hamill is an actor with not just blockbuster experience, but years of voice acting work too. Hamill first rose to fame as Star Wars protagonist Luke Skywalker, before voicing the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series, becoming known as one of the best Jokers of all time. Along with Joker, his extensive voice acting resume includes projects like Regular Show, Metalocalypse, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. He's had plenty of experience playing all sorts of animated characters, bringing something unique to each.
Hamill is the oldest actor on this list, but that doesn't affect his ability to voice the CGI Knuckles. He's has proven beyond a doubt is that he's very versatile, able to fit into any role he's given. Not only can he play a multitude of characters, but he's proven how impactful his performances are to fans. Even with so many incredible depictions of the Joker, in all forms of media, Mark Hamill remains a fan favorite. This sheer level of his skill as a voice actor, paired with a track record of legacy characters, showcases that Hamill could easily do the same for the Sonic film universe as Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
Pedro Pascal
Another Star Wars universe actor who could play Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is Pedro Pascal. Pascal currently stars in the Disney+ series The Mandalorian. Like Winston Duke, Pascal hasn't had much experience in voice acting specifically, aside from the video game Dishonored 2. That said, his work as the titular Mandalorian proves that he can play the type of character Knuckles is, and how he can excel without showing his face.
The Mandalorian is a serious warrior in an elevated world, much like Knuckles. Knuckles protects the Master Emerald in the same way that the Mandalorian looks after Baby Yoda. And Mando softens during his journey while protecting Baby Yoda, gaining more appreciation for the lives of others. He's also now proving he can drive a franchise himself, based almost entirely on his vocal performance. The way Pascal has turned The Mandalorian into an instant hit could easily be replicated if he was cast as Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.