Sonic the Hedgehog’s First Movie Kept Sega From Ending the Series, Iizuka Says

Sega once considered ending the Sonic the Hedgehog series altogether, according to Sonic Team head Takashi Iizuka. He said the company’s higher-ups told him to cancel the franchise during its worst period, but he fought internally to keep Sonic alive.

Iizuka discussed Sonic’s 35-year history in an interview with One More Game. “During the worst times, I was told by the higher-ups that we should cancel the entire franchise,” he said. “I had to fight within the organization to keep the franchise as long as possible.”

The first Sonic movie changed Sega’s plans

The biggest turning point arrived with Sonic the Hedgehog, which released in 2020 after heavy backlash to its initial character design. Sega redesigned Sonic before release, and the finished film became a critical and commercial success.

The movie grossed $320 million at the box office against a reported budget of roughly $85 million to $90 million. Iizuka called it the biggest milestone of his time with Sonic, saying, “That had been a great hit and definitely changed the course of this franchise.”

Success helped lead to multiple sequels, new games, and shows. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is planned for 2027, while Iizuka said Sega wants to release “some sort of media almost every year from here on out.”

The revelation arrives during Sonic’s 35th anniversary year, which has already included plans spanning games, music, events, collaborations, and merchandise. Iizuka previously said Sonic’s anniversary celebration still has more surprises in store, although Sega has not announced its next mainline 3D game.

Shadow the Hedgehog also survived an early exit

Iizuka also revealed that Sega once intended to kill off Shadow the Hedgehog after Sonic Adventure 2. Shadow appeared to die at the end of that game, but his popularity convinced the company to bring him back in Sonic Heroes.

Shadow’s profile has continued to grow. Iizuka said the character’s popularity rose sharply after the third Sonic movie and has reached a level close to Sonic’s, Tails’, and Knuckles’ popularity. Shadow also received a rare starring role in 2024’s Sonic X Shadow Generations.

Iizuka called Shadow his favorite character and said he wants to create more opportunities for the character to stand out. For a franchise that once came close to ending, Sonic now has room for both its familiar mascot and one of its most popular rivals.

Would Sonic still be around today without the first movie’s success, and should Shadow receive more starring roles? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.