Sonic the Hedgehog star Ben Schwartz shares a photo of him buddying up with the Sonic balloon as it's broadcast from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The popular character was first introduced in the 1991 Sega Genesis game Sonic the Hedgehog. Stylized as a blue hedgehog with the ability to travel at supersonic speeds, Sonic has appeared in 26 games as well as 7 animated series and specials, 4 of which featured Urkel performer Jaleel White voicing the character.
The Sonic the Hedgehog movie, which stars Schwartz as the voice as the loveable blue speedster, came out on February 14, 2020. It was one of the last films to have a more-or-less complete theatrical run before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down theaters worldwide. Because of the year's truncated release schedule (but also because of its surprisingly warm reception by critics and audiences alike), it ended up at #3 in the domestic box office for 2020 and #6 worldwide.
On his Twitter, Schwartz shares a photo of him with the Sonic the Hedgehog balloon from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade playing on his TV. The Sonic balloon was included in the parade this year for the first time since 2013, and though Schwartz was not inside the balloon singing the green hill theme, as he previously joked on Twitter, he clearly wanted to pay tribute to the momentous occasion. Thankfully for Schwartz, this time the balloon did not explode, like it did in a viral video from Thanksgiving Day 1993. Check out his post below:
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Schwartz will be getting the chance to reprise his role in the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The film, which is being helmed by returning director Jeff Fowler, is set to release in theaters next Spring, on April 8, 2022. In addition to Schwartz, James Marsden and Jim Carrey will return to reprise their roles as Sonic's newfound friend and guardian Tom Wachowski and the villainous Dr. Robotnik, respectively. Idris Elba also joins the cast as Knuckles, the game's iconic red echidna.
If the Sonic the Hedgehog sequel is a success, the character might just be poised to make a major cultural resurgence. Sonic has been an iconic intergenerational figure since his invention, but in recent years he has receded somewhat into the background. The inclusion of his balloon in this year's parade is a sign that his cachet is rising to new helium-fueled heights.
Source: Ben Schwartz/Twitter
