If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.
From John Wick to Shadow the Hedgehog: Keanu Reeves understands that tragedy is the core to his Sonic 3 character
Both John Wick and Shadow are unstoppable (and gun-wielding) killing machines driven by revenge, so Reeves seems the perfect person to play both.
Popverse's top stories of the day
- Peter Pan is finally growing up in new sequel called The Last Boy - but he is fighting it all the way
- Once Upon a Time's Lana Parrilla, Sean Maguire, & Rebecca Mader are coming to ECCC 2025!
- Star Wars' John Boyega is coming to Chicago's C2E2 2025
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is racing to our screens this month and we’re all excited (and a bit nervous) to see how Keanu Reeves portrays Sonic’s most dangerous enemy. No, he isn’t taking over as Dr. Robotnik; we’re talking about his role as Shadow the Hedgehog. According to the film’s director, Reeves was very clued in on exactly what made Shadow tick and it was his relationship with Maria, and it has us seeing parallels with John Wick.
Keanu Reeves has plenty of experience playing emotionally unstable killing machines. After John Wick 4 seemingly killed off his character, he began preparing to play the Ultimate Lifeform in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Jeff Fowler, who is directing the sequel, says that it was clear that Reeves showed up to the studio prepared, saying he “definitely wouldn’t question that he did a deep dive” into the character.
“[Keanu Reeves’] questions were really smart,” Fowler said in an interview ahead of Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s premiere. “It was very clear to him what the Shadow and Maria relationship meant to Shadow as a character [and] to the fans as a story they loved. He just knew that we really had to nail it for the film.”
Maria, of course, was the young girl Shadow had befriended in the past. It was her death that drove him to swear vengeance against all of humanity in Sonic Adventure 2. Keanu Reeves is right to focus on that aspect of the character’s history as it is what changes Shadow from a palette-swapped version of the hero into a compelling anti-hero with a tragic backstory.
Hold on; Keanu Reeves is, once again, playing a dangerous and seemingly unstoppable killing machine who is driven by a need for revenge for the one woman he ever loved? Is Shadow the Hedgehog just a kid-friendly version of John Wick? If they let him use the guns from his stand-alone game, then we’re going to say yes, and that realization has made us so much more excited for Sonic 3.
Want to know what's coming up next in pop culture? Check out Popverse's guides to:
And if you're looking for specific franchises or genres, we've also got lists for the:
Finally, if you're a fan of superheroes and not specific to just Marvel or DC, we have overall guides to:
Follow Popverse for upcoming event coverage and news
Find out how we conduct our review by reading our review policy
Let Popverse be your tour guide through the wilderness of pop culture
Sign in and let us help you find your new favorite thing.
Comments
Want to join the discussion? Please activate your account first.
Visit Reedpop ID if you need to resend the confirmation email.