Keanu Reeves went on an intense 'internal journey' to inhabit the role of evil Sonic the Hedgehog With a Gun

Movies & TVSonic the HedgehogKeanu Reeves went on an intense ‘internal journey’ to inhabit the role of evil Sonic the Hedgehog With a GunWhen 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: Sega, Lionsgate)

Shadow and a star

“For 50 years, Shadow’s been in a state of suspended animation,” intones Reeves, solemnly, “he’s coming out of it seeking revenge.”

Jim Carrey—who plays Dr Robotnik—reckons Reeves is the perfect man for the role. “Shadow’s got this brooding kind of darkness that Keanu has mastered so brilliantly,” he says, of a character who is the evil twin of Sonic the Hedgehog with a gun.

I have to say, we see a few snippets of Reeves' performance in the video, and hesure sounds like Keanu Reeves. You could tell me these were clips left onCD ProjektRed’s floor from his stint as Johnny Silverhand and I’d absolutely believe it. If Reeves had to go on a voyage to the centre of the self, or climb to the top of a mountain to consult the sages in order to properly inhabit the persona of Evil Sonic, I dunno that I could tell. I say this as a Keanu-liker, and someone who thinks he gets unfairly dinged for his acting.

You can tell he’s actually a good actor because he’s able to say “Sonic 3 and playing Shadow, it’s really on another level” entirely without smirking. And look, I understand: these actors are promoting a movie. They’re not gonna come out and say they’re only there because they got offered an enormous paycheque—I, too, would have voiced Shadow the Hedgehog if Sega offered me more money than god has—but it is slightly surreal to watch people like Idris Elba and Keanu Reeves sit down and talk up the dramatic bona fides of the Sonic movie.

Anyway, it sounds like Reeves really got into it, so look out for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 to hit cinemas this December 20, where it will make 400 trillion dollars.

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

TOPICSSega

TOPICS

More about movies tvFallout season 2 filming delayed due to massive LA firesMythic Quest Season 4 trailer wrestles with Roblox, AI, and the US CongressLatestSorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our faultSee more latest►

More about movies tvFallout season 2 filming delayed due to massive LA firesMythic Quest Season 4 trailer wrestles with Roblox, AI, and the US Congress

More about movies tv

Fallout season 2 filming delayed due to massive LA firesMythic Quest Season 4 trailer wrestles with Roblox, AI, and the US Congress

Firefighters and a fire truck in front of burning houses during Palisades Fire 2025

Fallout season 2 filming delayed due to massive LA fires

Rob McElhenney and Charlotte Nicdao from the show Mythic Quest

Mythic Quest Season 4 trailer wrestles with Roblox, AI, and the US Congress

LatestSorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our faultSee more latest►

Latest

Sorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our fault

Herobrine standing in front of a foggy forest

Sorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our fault

See more latest►

Most PopularMSI intros cheaper ‘back connect’ Project Zero Intel motherboards for super-clean PC builds you might actually be able to affordThermaltake’s new 2000 W PSU is too powerful to be sold in the USA and comes with four PCIe 5.0 GPU power connectorsAMD accuses Intel’s Arrow Lake of being a ‘horrible’ product and implies a lack of options for consumers has caused the Ryzen 7 9800X3D shortageThis Jinx-inspired gaming PC is my favorite of CES 2025 and I’m head over heels for the hardwareHarrowing report alleges years of horrific abuse at Brandoville Studios, an Indonesian support studio that worked on Assassin’s Creed Shadows and The Last of Us RemakeTencent says it’s not a Chinese military company and is willing to sue the US Department of Defense if it isn’t removed from a blacklistAll Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codesAsus reveals three new Slash Travel Bags for carting around your ROG Ally—however, none of them are particularly fashion forwardToday’s Wordle answer for Friday, January 10We may not have a roadmap or balance patch just yet, but at least Path of Exile 2’s bugfix patch notes are funnyDeus Ex: Mankind Divided writer didn’t like the ending either: ‘Nothing is resolved’

Most Popular

MSI intros cheaper ‘back connect’ Project Zero Intel motherboards for super-clean PC builds you might actually be able to afford

Thermaltake’s new 2000 W PSU is too powerful to be sold in the USA and comes with four PCIe 5.0 GPU power connectors

AMD accuses Intel’s Arrow Lake of being a ‘horrible’ product and implies a lack of options for consumers has caused the Ryzen 7 9800X3D shortage

This Jinx-inspired gaming PC is my favorite of CES 2025 and I’m head over heels for the hardware

Harrowing report alleges years of horrific abuse at Brandoville Studios, an Indonesian support studio that worked on Assassin’s Creed Shadows and The Last of Us Remake

Tencent says it’s not a Chinese military company and is willing to sue the US Department of Defense if it isn’t removed from a blacklist

All Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codes

Asus reveals three new Slash Travel Bags for carting around your ROG Ally—however, none of them are particularly fashion forward

Today’s Wordle answer for Friday, January 10

We may not have a roadmap or balance patch just yet, but at least Path of Exile 2’s bugfix patch notes are funny

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided writer didn’t like the ending either: ‘Nothing is resolved’

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals