Idris Elba will return as Knuckles in his own Sonic the Hedgehog spinoff series, which has just unveiled its cast – so, who’s in the Paramount+ show?
The Super Mario Bros Movie may be the most successful video game adaptation of all time, but another franchise paved the way for its box office domination: Sonic the Hedgehog.
The first movie came just before cinemas were shuttered amid global restrictions, and it still grossed more than $319 million. Its sequel hit the big screen last year and made over $405 million – oh, and both movies have positive Rotten Tomatoes scores to boot.
While we’re still (im)patiently waiting for Sonic 3, Paramount+ is going ahead with a Knuckles spinoff series with Idris Elba reprising his role.
Knuckles cast for Idris Elba’s Sonic spinoff
Idris Elba is back as Knuckles, the red, spiky-fisted echidna who made his debut in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. He started off as an antagonist, helping Dr. Robotnik locate the Master Emerald. In the end, after he was betrayed by Eggman, he teamed up with Sonic and Tails.
Beyond Elba’s return, we also know Christopher Lloyd of Back to the Future fame will be joining the cast in a mysterious role too.
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The full cast for the Knuckles series includes:
- Idris Elba as Knuckes
- Adam Pally as Wade Whipple
- Tika Sumpter as Maddie
- Christopher Lloyd
- Cary Elwes
- Stockard Channing
- Paul Scheer
- Rob Huebel
- Edi Patterson
- Julian Barratt
- Scott Mescudi
- Ellie Taylor
Pally and Sumpter also starred in the movies, but it’s unclear if we can expect any appearances from Ben Schwartz as Sonic or James Marsden as Tom Wachowski.
He’s only been training for this his entire life. Production has started on #Knuckles, the #SonicMovie spin-off series coming soon to @ParamountPlus. 👊https://t.co/LsQAt8wTeJ pic.twitter.com/CP2GBaLq3H
— Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) April 17, 2023
The spinoff will take place between the events of the second and third film, with the official synopsis reading: “The new live-action series will follow Knuckles on a hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior.”
Jeff Fowler, the director of both movies, is helming the pilot episode, with all of the films’ key creatives serving as executive producers, including Elba.
The Knuckles show is in production now, but it doesn’t have a release date. In the meantime, find out what we know about Sonic the Hedgehog 3 here.