Paramount has unveiled the first poster for the new Sonic The Hedgehog film, and fans are divided.
The live-action adaptation of the iconic cartoon blue hedgehog is due to be released in late 2019 and will transplant Sonic to present-day world. Parks and Recreation‘s Ben Schwartz will voice Sonic, with Jim Carrey bringing his nemesis Doctor Robotnik to life.
The poster shows a silhouette of a muscular, furry Sonic wearing red trainers. Check out the teaser poster below.
The guys that brought you Deadpool & The Fast and the Furious are bringing SONIC THE HEDGEHOG to the big screen! #SonicMovie speeds into theatres Nov 2019.
Check out the new teaser poster, and click to read what they had to say about making the film: https://t.co/bdCPODHdVg pic.twitter.com/LMakeasL6y
— Paramount Pictures (@ParamountPics) December 10, 2018
As soon as the image dropped, fans took to social media to question why Sonic appears to have hair rather than spikes, why his legs are so defined and whether the film will be as dark as the poster implies.
https://twitter.com/TheBitsZ/status/1072123747577069570
Not going to lie, I'd go against whoever decided to make Sonic like this. This'll surely make the movie a flop. Old fans and new fans of the games, shows, and comics won't appreciate the "new style" you're going for.
— Project: Respawn – Dino (@AHaloDinosaur) December 10, 2018
God the more I look at this the worse it gets.
Looks like his eyes are going to be ten sizes too small with a huge head.
Nose looks so small.
Why are his calves so well defined? Why does it creep me out?
Yet his hands so tiny?
This is worse than the fan art with his shoes off.— TheHaddockbanker (@haddockbanker) December 10, 2018
One fan spoke for many when they tweeted: “I don’t even want to know what tails [Sonic’s sidekick] would look like”.
I don't even want to know what tails would look like.
— ❄️Adam❄️ (@Klakuladd) December 10, 2018
Executive producer Tim Miller spoke to IGN about the new look Sonic, explaining the decision to make him furry. “It would be weird and it would feel like he was running around nude if he was some sort of otter-like thing.
“It was always, for us, fur, and we never considered anything different. It’s part of what integrates him into the real world and makes him a real creature.”
Miller also touched on the thorny topic of Sonic’s eyes. Traditionally, he has one eye with two pupils but the new film has Sonic with two definite eyeballs. A decision that SEGA, the video game developer behind the original game, found difficult.
“I don’t think SEGA was entirely happy with the eye decision, but these sorts of things you go, ‘It’s going to look weird if we don’t do this.’ But everything is a discussion, and that’s kind of the goal, which is to only change what’s necessary and stay true to the rest of it.
“He’s not going to feel like a Pixar character would because I don’t think that’s the right aesthetic to make it feel like part of our world.”
The eye issue was also the subject of a heated discussion online. Some people were curious, others were simply aghast.
Is that his fucking eye? Does he just have two beady-ass eyes??#SonicMovie pic.twitter.com/oUSL8riibh
— Jake Walker (@jake_doubleyoo) December 10, 2018
I am extremely concerned bout the eyes……plz don't mess with the eyes! #sonicMovie
— Sofibeth (@Sofibeth5445) December 10, 2018
I like that sonic has weird Hedgehog eyes. I am going to be absolutely fascinated looking at that weird design. #SonicMovie
— TheSynbios?️? (@SynbiosModeste) December 10, 2018
IF HE'S GOT TWO EYES✌️THEN LEGIT THIS IS THE BEST DECISION THEY MADE LMAO ALL OTHER DECISIONS ON HIS LOOK WILL BE FORGIVEN #SONICMOVIE https://t.co/opoTC9jSQH
— Lawliet | لاوليت (@7awliet) December 10, 2018
Sonic The Hedgehog is set to be released on November 8 2019 in the US and December 26 2019 in the UK.