Sonic the Hedgehog appears briefly in the second official trailer for The Angry Birds Movie 3, bringing a character from Paramount’s Sonic film series into the animated game adaptation. The trailer shows Sonic running alongside Chuck, the yellow bird voiced by Josh Gad, in a wooded setting.
The clip does not establish how Sonic fits into the movie’s story. His appearance comes after Paramount took over distribution of the third Angry Birds film from Sony, which distributed the first two movies. Paramount also holds the film rights to Sonic the Hedgehog, creating a connection between the two properties.
A crossover between two game adaptations
The trailer’s reveal marks Sonic’s first announced appearance in the Angry Birds movie series. The films are based on video game properties: Angry Birds originated as Rovio’s mobile game franchise, while Sonic began as Sega’s platform-game series. Sega acquired Rovio in 2023, adding another corporate link between the brands.
The Angry Birds Movie 3 arrives seven years after the previous film. The new story follows Red, voiced by Jason Sudeikis, as he faces fatherhood and raises three young birds. The trailer presents the new family situation alongside the returning conflict between the birds and the pigs that has defined the animated films.
- Sonic appears in a short sequence running beside Chuck.
- Chuck is voiced by Josh Gad, while Red is voiced by Jason Sudeikis.
- The film is scheduled to open in theaters on Dec. 25.
The character’s role has not been identified in the trailer. The footage also does not identify whether the film’s live-action Sonic voice actor, Ben Schwartz, or animated Sonic voice actor Roger Craig Smith will reprise the role. The appearance therefore functions as a new connection between Paramount’s video game adaptations without establishing Sonic’s place in the main plot.
The film is set to open during a crowded holiday theatrical period, alongside Jumanji 3 and after the releases of Avengers: Doomsday and Dune 3. Sonic’s next standalone film, Sonic the Hedgehog 4, is scheduled for March 19. The Angry Birds Movie 3 will reach theaters first, on Dec. 25.
