Sonic 3’s cast has finally found its ‘Shadow’, with the ‘Speed’ star set to voice the video game’s iconic DARK Hedgehog character!

Keanu Reeves has long been a fan-favorite hero in Tinseltown, famous for portraying stoic, morally upright characters in critically acclaimed flicks such as John Wick and The Matrix. Nonetheless, much to the surprise of his fans, the Beirut-born actor, 59, has now taken on a new role that differs from his usual heroic persona: that of the anti-hero (Shadow) in the forthcoming Sonic 3 film. And fans are loving it!

Multiple sources are attesting that Reeves will resume voice acting following his role as Bruce Wayne / Batman in Jared Stern’s DC League of Super-Pets (2022).

Shadow in a still from Sonic The Hedgehog 2
For those unfamiliar with the Sonic franchise, Shadow is an intricate character who walks the line between hero and villain. He is gloomy and enigmatic, with a mysterious past that drives him to follow his own code of conduct, often contradicting traditional notions of what a hero should be.

In short, he is an antihero who, despite his good intentions, will do whatever it takes to get what he wants, which puts him at odds with Sonic the Hedgehog.

Sonic 3 Casting News: Keanu Reeves as Shadow is a Game-Changer

Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s Shadow has now been revealed, ending years of conjecture about the character’s voice actor. A number of actors, including Hayden Christensen and Keanu Reeves, have been floated as possible candidates to play the iconic video game character in the trilogy (see ComicBook).

Keanu Reeves has officially joined the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 cast as Shadow, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter. Additionally, this development comes on the heels of the trailer for the film, which premiered at CinemaCon and featured Jim Carrey reprising his role as Dr. Robotnik while hinting at Shadow’s meeting with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles.

John Wick might still be alive | Source: John Wick
Since Reeves was already a front-runner to voice Shadow in the forthcoming movie, the announcement of Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s cast is sure to spark excitement. Shadow, an edgy antihero and the cutest hedgehog around, made his debut in Sonic Adventure 2 in 2001 and has since grown to be one of the most well-liked characters in the franchise.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will undoubtedly feature a big role for Shadow, who was alluded to in the post-credits scene of Sonic 2. Takashi Iizuka & Shiro Maekawa created this character, who is famous for his gloomy and brooding demeanor, which some find endearing while others consider a little too much.

Keanu Reeves’ Anti-hero Role in Sonic 3: How Fans are Embracing the News

Shadow in Sonic Adventure 2
The casting of Keanu Reeves as Shadow has delighted fans of the Sonic series, who admire the actor’s ability to offer his characters depth and nuance. Early responses to the casting have been overwhelmingly positive, even though some people might have been first hesitant to see Reeves take on a role so different from his usual fare.

“Super excited” fans have taken to X to convey their joy, with a few even dubbing The Matrix star as the perfect choice to voice the morally ambiguous character. Some have even gone so far as to envision “his voice coming out of the character” already.

Let’s see some of the comments:

Reeves’ willingness to try new things as an actor is evident and fans are applauding him greatly for his willingness to continue challenging himself. Even though he might not be the hero we are used to, the actor will undoubtedly bring his signature depth and intensity to the role of Shadow, winning over fans in a whole new way.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will arrive in theaters on December 20, 2024.

You can stream the first two Sonic the Hedgehog flicks on Paramount+.