Soon it will be Paramount+ & Knuckles, as the streamer released the first trailer for its spinoff series of the “Sonic the Hedgehog” films on Thursday morning. “Knuckles” sees Idris Elba return to voice the eponymous grumpy echidna, introduced as Sonic’s foe-turned-friend in the second “Hedgehog” entry.
Billed as “the latest in the cinematic world of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog,'” the first look also comes with the news that the entire series — totaling six episodes — will debut simultaneously on Paramount+ in North America on April 26. Additional territories will follow on April 27, with a Japan release slated for later on this year.
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Paramount Pictures and Sega of America plan to give fans an additional look at “Knuckles” during Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, when a TV spot will debut during the game. The character of Knuckles is also set to make a “surprise appearance” during Nickelodeon’s specialized live broadcast of football’s biggest night.
“Knuckles” takes place between the events of “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” and the forthcoming “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” slated to bow in theaters on Dec. 20 from returning series director Jeff Fowler. Along with Elba’s voice reprisal of the role, the Paramount+ series also sees the return of “Hedgehog” series actor Adam Pally as Wade Whipple, who Knuckles takes on to train in “the ways of the Echidna warrior.” Guest stars include Stockard Channing, Edi Patterson, Scott Mescudi, Ellie Taylor, Julian Barratt, Christopher Lloyd, Cary Elwes, Paul Scheer, Rory McCann and Rob Huebel. Ben Schwartz and Colleen O’Shaughnessey will make a voice appearances as Sonic and Tails, respectively, while Tika Sumpter will also reprise her role from the “Hedgehog” films.
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Fowler directs the “Knuckles” pilot, with Ged Wright, Brandon Trost, Jorma Taccone and Carol Banker helming following episodes. Fowler and Elba serve as executive producers, alongside Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, John Whittington and Toru Nakahara. The “Knuckles” series is created by John Whittington and showrunner Toby Ascher.
