Sonic the Hedgehog 4 wraps filming with stunning Metal Sonic first look
Director Jeff Fowler has confirmed that Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has wrapped production after a 74-day shoot, sharing a first look at Metal Sonic and declaring it “the BEST Sonic Movie yet” ahead of its March 2027 release.
TL;DR
- Principal photography wrapped on 15 May 2026 after starting in March, completing in just 74 days.
- Director Jeff Fowler posted a behind-the-scenes photo posing with a highly detailed Metal Sonic puppet.
- Kristen Bell joins as the voice of Amy Rose; the rest of the main cast all returns.
- Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is set for UK and US cinema release on 19 March 2027.
The wrap announcement
Jeff Fowler took to X on 15 May 2026 to share the news, posting: “And that’s a wrap on #SonicMovie4!!! On behalf of this amazing cast/crew, we have filmed the BEST Sonic Movie yet and can’t wait to share 💙🩷”
Fowler, who has directed all four films in the franchise, accompanied his post with a set photo of himself in the director’s chair alongside a strikingly detailed Metal Sonic puppet — giving fans their first proper look at the villain ahead of any official trailer.
Metal Sonic steps into the spotlight
The robotic doppelgänger had already been teased in the mid-credits scene of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but the new set image marks the first confirmed visual of the character’s design for the fourth film.
Metal Sonic is one of the most iconic antagonists in Sega’s long-running game series, first appearing in the 1993 title Sonic CD. According to CBR, the fourth film is expected to draw on elements from that same game — including its time-travel mechanics and the villainous plot to seize magical Time Stones.
Fan reaction online was broadly positive, with many praising how faithful the puppet design appears to the character’s classic look. Voice actor Ben Schwartz, who returns as Sonic, reportedly responded to Fowler’s post with a string of blue heart emojis.
Who’s in the cast?
The returning voice cast includes Ben Schwartz as Sonic, Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails, Idris Elba as Knuckles, and Keanu Reeves as Shadow. Newcomer Kristen Bell joins as the voice of Amy Rose, the pink hedgehog and Sonic’s close friend who was first teased in Sonic 3‘s post-credits scene.
On the live-action side, Jim Carrey is back as Dr. Ivo Robotnik, alongside James Marsden and Tika Sumpter as Tom and Maddie Wachowski. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Carrey’s role in Sonic 3 saw him play a dual part as both the doctor and his grandfather, with that film ultimately passing $490 million at the global box office.
New additions to the cast in undisclosed roles include Ben Kingsley, Nick Offerman, Matt Berry, and Richard Ayoade — a lineup that has already caught the attention of British comedy fans.
UK release and what to expect
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is confirmed for UK cinema release on Friday, 19 March 2027, per FilmDates.co.uk. A BBFC classification has not yet been assigned; the previous films in the franchise each received a PG certificate from the BBFC.
In a notable first for the franchise, IMAX has confirmed the film will receive a proper wide IMAX release — a step up from the limited Cineworld IMAX screenings that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 received in the UK. The screenplay comes from Pat Casey, Josh Miller, and John Whittington, with Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara returning as producers.
A franchise still building momentum
<div style=”border-left: 4px solid #0096FF; padding: 0.5rem 1rem; margin: 1rem 0; background: #f4f9ff;”>
| Film | Global Box Office |
|---|---|
| Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) | $319 million |
| Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) | $405 million |
| Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) | $490+ million |
Source: Variety </div>
The numbers tell a consistent story. According to Variety, the franchise collectively surpassed $1 billion in worldwide box office receipts earlier this year — a milestone that makes the continued investment in the series easy to understand.
With production now complete in just over two months, the film moves into post-production ahead of its spring 2027 release. An untitled fifth film in the franchise has also been confirmed for late 2028.
For more on the franchise, see our earlier coverage: Matt Reeves teases returning cast for The Batman Part II and Netflix drops first Season 2 image from Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Lewis Calvert Founder & Editor, BriefLedger
Lewis founded BriefLedger and has six years of experience covering film, TV, and entertainment news. He leads the site’s Movies and TV sections and runs the news desk — always with a straight-talking British take.
