The popular British Actor has joined the voice cast for Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and will play Knuckles.
We now know that Idris Elba will play Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The sequel to the 2020 Sonic The Hedgehog Movie is due to be released next year, on April 8 2022. Idris Elba will play Knuckles, while Ben Schwartz will continue as Sonic, and Jim Carrey will reprise his role as Robotnik.
Knuckles was first introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and started off as a foe for Sonic. Robotnik used Knuckles as a weapon to take down Sonic, before Knuckles smartened up to Robotnik’s true nature. It was at this point that he joined forces with Sonic to defeat Robotnik. It’s reasonable to believe the upcoming Sonic sequel will follow the same trajectory as the videogame, and we’ll see Sonic and Knuckles become allies before the movie finishes.
Fans of Sonic were surprised when it was announced that Idris Elba would be playing Knuckles, as it’s hard to imagine the British actor’s signature voice fitting with Knuckles. Nevertheless, due to the immense talent that Edra possesses, this should be a fun take on the popular character. Idris Elba recently sat down with Screen Rant and was asked about what he would bring to the table as Knuckles. The only thing Elba was willing to confirm at this stage is that the depiction of Knuckles on screen would not be sexy. Below is what he had to say:
“Honestly, I cannot say. Contractually, I cannot say anything. But I wouldn't say he was sexy. I don't think I'm going for that. That's for sure.”
Although Edra has remained tight lipped about the character, we can draw on the video game lore to predict what the movie will be about. In the video games, Knuckles is the guardian of the Master Emarald. The Master Emerald is a gigantic jewel which harnesses untold power that controls the seven Chaos Emeralds. The Chaos Emeralds are an integral part of Sonic’s backstory, and it’s where he gets his super speed from. These elements will probably be explored in more detail in the sequel and beyond.
What we can also determine from the ending of the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie is that Tails – the two tailed fox will also feature in the sequel. Details about Tails’ involvement in the sequel has been kept under wraps so far. Tails appeared in the end credits scene of Sonic the Hedgehog and was voiced by Colleen Villard. It’s not been confirmed if Villard will return to voice Tails or whether the character would be recast entirely.
More details will emerge about the ever-growing voice cast for the movie in the coming months, and we’ll be sure to keep you up to date.