Noah Romsdal Hallundbæk Sørensen
Paramount is gearing up for its next big hit, a brand-new Sonic spin-off set to drop in 2028.
A new entry in the Sonic film franchise is on Paramount’s slate, but the studio is keeping tight control over the details.
The project is already sparking speculation among fans who believe it could centre on one of the series’ most enigmatic figures.
Sonic timeline shifts
Variety reported that Paramount has scheduled a film currently titled Sonic Universe Event Film for December 22, 2028.
The studio already plans to release Sonic the Hedgehog 4 in March 2027, which will introduce Metal Sonic and Amy Rose to the live-action series.
With that sequel arriving first, questions are growing about what story the later spin-off intends to tell.
Shadow speculation builds
Many viewers are convinced the new film will spotlight Shadow the Hedgehog, who appeared as an adversary in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in 2024.
Keanu Reeves’ performance as the brooding character drew strong reactions, and the film’s box-office haul approached $500 million worldwide.
According to fans, that momentum makes Shadow the most likely candidate to headline the 2028 release.
Previous lore revived
Shadow’s history in the franchise also fuels the theory.
He led his own 2005 video game, a darker third-person shooter featuring a larger supporting cast.
That connection has prompted fans to wonder whether a live-action Rouge the Bat might finally appear.
Studio stays quiet
Paramount, however, has not confirmed whether Shadow will return in Sonic the Hedgehog 4 or lead the later spin-off.
The studio is expected to focus first on delivering the 2027 sequel before unveiling plans for the wider universe.
For now, any storyline involving Shadow, or Rouge, remains unannounced.
Box-office pressure
Paramount’s three Sonic films have collectively earned more than $1 billion to date.
Even so, they trail the $1.36 billion global total achieved by Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. Movie.
With no Sonic release planned for next year, Nintendo’s upcoming Super Mario Galaxy Movie will face little direct competition in the videogame-adaptation space.
Sources: Variety, IGN Nordic, IMDb
