The cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 features a talented cast of actors, both voice and live-action, with many of them very familiar thanks to roles in other movies and TV shows. The film, directed by Jeff Fowler, received positive reviews and performed well at the box office after grossing over $405 million worldwide. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 followed immediately from the end of the first film, with Sonic trying his hand at vigilante hero work as the self-titled "Blue Justice." However, soon he's embroiled in a globe-trotting adventure with the return of Dr. Robotnik and the emergence of both new allies and enemies.

Two characters from the games - Knuckles the Echidna and Miles "Tails" Prower - are in Sonic 2, both CGI creations with voice-acting performances, similar to Sonic himself. The success of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is helped in no small part by the seamless blend of the computer-generated elements of the film and the live-action performances. This is made possible not only by the director and behind-the-camera team but by the performances generated by the film's voice actors. Here is the complete guide for the film's voice actors and the rest of the main cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Ben Schwartz As Sonic the Hedgehog

Split image of Ben Schwartz and Sonic the Hedgehog

Ben Schwartz provides the voice and facial motion capture of the titular character, reprising his role from Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic is an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who can run at supersonic speeds. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 chronicles the return of Sonic's villain, Dr. Robotnik, who seeks the Master Emerald to exact his revenge. Sonic teams up with Tails the Fox to prevent Robotnik from carrying out his plan.

Schwartz is known for a wide variety of film and TV projects, including smaller voice roles in The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, and DuckTales. Schwartz, however, is more widely known for his live-action roles, particularly NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, where he guested as Jean-Ralphio Saperstein before moving on to bigger, main cast roles in House of Lies and Space Force. In 2023, he took on a villainous role as Teddy Lobo in Renfield.

Colleen O'Shaughnessey As Miles "Tails" Prower

Split image of Colleen O'Shaughnessey and Tails from Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Colleen O'Shaughnessey reprises her role as Tails the Fox in the cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, being the only voice actor from the game franchise to voice their CGI live-action counterpart thus far. Tails is an anthropomorphic two-tailed fox who can use his tails to fly at speeds rivaling Sonic by spinning them like a helicopter rotor. He initially visits Earth to warn Sonic that Knuckles the Echidna is hunting him, after being inspired by Sonic's battle against Robotnik at the end of Sonic the Hedgehog. This leads Tails and Sonic to become friends, teaming up to stop Robotnik and Knuckles' plan.

O'Shaughnessey began voicing Tails in 2014 for the Sonic game series and its spinoffs. O'Shaughnessey has a decorated voice-acting career, appearing in many different franchises and projects besides the Sonic franchise. Along with Sonic, she is perhaps best known for her roles voicing Sora Takenouchi in the Digimon anime, Wasp in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and Ino Yamanaka in the Naruto anime series, among others.

Idris Elba As Knuckles The Echidna

Split image of Idris Elba and Knuckles

In 2021, Idris Elba was announced as the voice of Knuckles the Echidna in the cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, one of the most popular characters from the Sonic game franchise. Searching for the Master Emerald in order to protect it and honor the Echidna tribe's legacy, Knuckles initially teams up with Robotnik, who manipulates Knuckles into helping him. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 adapts Sonic and Knuckles' initial antagonistic relationship before they eventually team up, creating the iconic trio of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles that is a staple of the Sonic game franchise.

Idris Elba is one of the biggest names in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, having lent his voice to other voice roles in Zootopia, Finding Dory, and The Jungle Book. Elba is more commonly known for his live-action roles. Fans will recognize him from his time as Heimdall in the MCU. More recently, Elba starred in The Suicide Squad, where he played the mercenary Bloodsport, and in Hobbs and Shaw, where he played the villain Brixton Lore. On TV, he starred in BBC's Luther and enjoyed his breakout role, Stringer Bell, in The Wire.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2's Live-Action Cast & Characters

Split image of human characters in Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik - Carrey portrays the primary antagonist of the Sonic game franchise and Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Dr. Robotnik. Robotnik covets Sonic's powers and returns for revenge in the sequel. Jim Carrey has an illustrious career, known for comedic roles in The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and more serious roles in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Truman Show.

James Marsden as Tom Wachowski - The sheriff of Green Hills and Sonic's father figure and best friend (besides Tails). Marsden is known for his roles as Cyclops/Scott Summers in the original Marvel X-Men trilogy, Prince Edward in Enchanted, and Corny Collins in Hairspray. He returned as Prince Edward in Disenchanted in 2022 and appears as himself in the mockumentary Jury Duty in 2023.

Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski - Sumpter plays Maddie, the local veterinarian of Green Hills and Tom's wife and Sonic's mother figure. Sumpter is known for her roles in Ride Along and its sequel, Ride Along 2 as well as TV roles in Gossip Girl and The Game. On TV, she played Alicia in the series Mixed-ish.

Natasha Rothwell as Rachel - Natasha Rothwell took on a major role in the cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 as Maddie's sister Rachel. It was her wedding that Sonic interrupted with his battle with Robotnik. Rothwell is best known for her Emmy-nominated role in HBO's The White Lotus, where she played Belinda. She also starred as Ms. Albright in the movie Love. Simon in 2018, and its televised sequel, Love, Victor in 2020.

Adam Pally as Green Hills Sheriff Wade Whipple - Adam Pally was the comic relief in the cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 as the replacement sheriff for Tom while he was on vacation. He was best known for his role as Max on the sitcom Happy Endings and as Peter on The Mindy Project. He also starred as The Great Dane in the 2023 Arnold Schwarzenegger Netflix series FUBAR.

Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone - Lee Majdoub returns as Dr. Robotnik's loyal and unwavering minion, Agent Stone, who will do anything that his master asks, even when the evil Doctor mostly dismisses him. He has also appeared in The 100 and Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. He also voiced the character Basin Ibn Ishaq in the 2023 video game Assassin's Creed Mirage.

Shemar Moore as Randall Handel - The most surprising member of the cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was Shemar Moore as Randall Handel, Rachel's fiancé. However, this was a ruse, as he was actually part of the government agency hunting down Sonic. Moore is best known for his TV work on shows like Criminal Minds and S.W.A.T.