A Sonic the Hedgehog movie is being made, for some reason

Company president Hajime Satomi confirmed the plans in an interview with The World Folio, saying the film was on track for a 2018 release. We would like to change, adjust or shift our product, brand and business with the current era to be a leader again in the future.

If the news sounds slightly familiar, there’s a reason: Neal Moritz (whose past credits include The Fast and the Furious franchise and the Will Smith vehicle I Am Legend) announced his intentions to helm the movie’s production in 2014 with Sega Sammy Group, with Evan Susser and Van Robichaux named the adaptation’s screenwriters. Creating a feature film, one said to star all of the franchise’s memorable characters, like Dr. Eggman, seems like a smart move by Sega.

Because no matter what you think, I can nearly guarantee you that you’re not thinking of a live action-meets-animated mashup. An animated live-action hybrid doesn’t sound like what Sonic the Hedgehog needs for his next big screen adventure. Sonic is a character who is versatile enough to work in any number of situations, and has a universal, dare we say it, Disney-esque appeal that many video game protagonists lack.

Now, a Sonic the Hedgehog movie could be done tastefully. “Along with our wonderful creative partners at Marza, we’re looking to capture everything that generations of fans know and love about Sonic while also growing his audience wider than ever before”. Usually when live-action and CG are mixed, there’s a human for the audience to latch onto.