Sony Pictures took the plunge in 2013 to catapult Angry Birds to the big screen – itself due to grace theaters later this year – and now the studio has set sights on a different breed of video game mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog.
In partnership with SEGA, Sony is set to bring the beloved speedster to the silver screen for the very first time in what will be a “live-action and animation hybrid.” Tentatively slated for a 2018 release, SEGA Chief Executive, Hajime Saito, teased the company’s plans to expand its business into different fields of entertainment via an official statement.
“Sega Sammy Group is currently planning with Sony Pictures to create a live-action and animation hybrid Sonic The Hedgehog movie scheduled for release in 2018. Like with this CG animation production, we would like to expand our business into other entertainment areas beyond what we are currently involved.”
As we draw closer to the 25th anniversary of the anthropomorphic hedgehog, it’s understood SEGA has more announcements to come for the future of its platforming mascot. One of those secrets appears to lie with renown EDM artist Madeon, with the company’s Twitter posting the following message.
The key lies with @madeon. Good luck. pic.twitter.com/iwpkUhXGp9
— Sonic the Hedgehog (@sonic_hedgehog) February 9, 2016
It’s unclear as of yet whether Madeon’s potential involvement is in relation to the 2018 animation or, in the more likely scenario, a new installment in Sonic’s video game franchise. Truth be told, SEGA’s old-school IP has been through the wringer in recent times, with Wii U adventure title Sonic Boom: Rise Of Lyric going down as a particular low point.
Can SEGA steer Sonic the Hedgehog back on track in time for the speedster’s cinematic debut? Time will tell. For now, the feature film is simmering in the early stages, with little more than a 2018 release date attached for now.
