ManySonic the Hedgehogfans are aware that the series deals with interesting lore.Sonic Adventure 2features Sonic being framed for Shadow’s crimes and escaping military custody,Sonic Heroessees Metal Sonicoverthrowing Eggman to try and take over the world, and more. Now, these games have a chance to hit the big screen through aSoniccinematic universe, but things may get tricky as the films get close to adaptingSonic’smore recent titles.
In the firstSonic the Hedgehogmovie, Sonic comes to Earth through a ring that sends him across the galaxy. Due to this, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are seen as intergalactic alien creatures. While the story of Sonic being from another world seems overdone for a live-action/CGI film, it actually fits rather well for the overall scope of the cinematic universe. Several key elements of theSonicfranchise deal with alien lifeforms, but this only scratches the surface of what the series deals with.
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The Reach of the Sonic Cinematic Universe
BothSonic the HedgehogandSonic the Hedgehog 2have made record profits for video game movies. WhileSonicfans make up a fair portion of that audience, there are also viewers who have likely never played aSonicgame. While this isn’t a bad thing, as it helps boost exposure for the entire franchise, it may mean that when gamessuch asSonic Unleashedget adapted for cinemas, newer fans might not accept it as openly.
An important aspect of any story deals is keeping the audience within their suspension of disbelief. This concept deals with how long viewers can ignore that certain elements in a story aren’t real for the sake of immersion. It’s important for any media to keep people interested, no matter how out-there it seems, that way viewers can enjoy the story without questions. Some laterSonicgames, many of whichSega pulled off of the marketdue to bad reception years back, tested the suspension of disbelief for many players. Movies adapting these games may end up confusing an entirely new audience in the same way.
The Stories of Recent Sonic Games
Many loyalSonicfans who have routinely kept up with the series know that each game differs in terms of story. One game may deal withSonic and friends racing on hoverboardsin a Grand Prix around the world, and the next sees Sonic being kidnapped by Dr. Eggman for six months as the entire world is at war. While jumping between these different tones might be normal in video games, movies require a more cohesive narrative. This may lead to a problem when it comes to adapting the stories of the more recent games in particular.
Due to the differing nature of these games' stories, it may lead fans to wonder how titles likeSonic and the Black KnightorSonic Generationsmay be adapted. However, there’s a high chance that many people who haven’t played the games prior to theSonicfilms would either be confused or lose interest in movies or TV shows dealing with Sonic the Werehog or Sonic’s escapades with the Babylon Rogues fromSonic Riders. Yet, these games shouldn’t be ignored when it comes to deciding what the cinematic universe should adapt.
Why the Sonic Cinematic Universe Should Adapt Newer Games
Even as confusing as some of the more recent additions toSoniclore can be, using them toexpand theSoniccinematic universehas tons of potential.Sonic UnleashedandSonic and the Black Knighthave been praised by many Sonic fans for their stories, with the latter being seen as an example of howSonicstories should be in general, andUnleashed’sopening cutscene is akin to a movie by itself.This means manySonicfans are hoping to see these games adapted in some way, and the cinematic universe should keep them in mind.
For the sake of potentially bringing Sonic the Werehog or even the Wisps to cinemas, Paramount may need to look into adapting these games to fit what’s already been established in the cinematic universe. This is important to make sure newer audience aren’t confused. However, the changes to these fan-favorite narratives will need to be done with care, or the entire audience may be lost as someSonicfans don’t take well to thechanges that Paramount makes.
The trouble with adapting video games to film in a way that interests an audience isn’t exclusive to theSonicfranchise. Video game movies in general tend to have a divide between an audience made of loyal players and casual viewers. While some movies attempt to interest viewers by indulging and embracing lore exclusive to the film universe, more often than not players aren’t invested. On the other side, if these video game films try to keep only players in mind, they might be completely lost on newer viewers. It’s important thattheSonicmovies continueto try and entertain both audiences.
However, while adapting games with a less-than-positive reception may seem like a risk, if done well these projects could be great for theSoniccinematic universe. Despite how some fans have questioned theaddition ofSonic Colors’WispsandSonic Lost World’sDeadly Six, these newer games could easily make great movies if enough care is put into the project. While it’s understandable that not every game might work as a movie, Paramount should look at these as a challenge and tackle the unexpected territory of recentSoniclore. In the end, faithful movies of even the strangest parts ofSonic the Hedgehog’s history could be beneficial.
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