Keanu Reeves Joins ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3’ As Shadow

Remember when Paramount first dropped that trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog and, well, we were all aghast and how horrible he looked? That seems like a lifetime ago, and since then there have been two wildly successful, and well-liked movies that have combined for over $700M worldwide and a series spinoff, Knuckles. And now the franchise expands further with a huge name joining the voice cast for Sonic 3.

After rumors surfaced online, THR confirms that Keanu Reeves will voice Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The character, a black, red-striped anthropomorphic hedgehog and a hybrid creation of Project Shadow, is Sonic’s nemesis with similar speed-base powers. Shadow was teased at the conclusion of Sonic 2. This continues Paramount’s upping the ante by revealing big name voices to play key roles, similar to when Idris Elba came aboard to voice Knuckles.

Jeff Fowler will return to direct, joined by returning stars James Marsden, Ben Schwartz (as Sonic), Tika Sumpter, Colleen O’Shaughnessey (as Tails), Lee Majdoub, Idris Elba, and Jim Carrey, who will be playing a more game-accurate version of Dr. Robotnik. New to the cast are Krysten Ritter, Sofia Pernas, Cristo Fernández, James Wolk, and Jorma Taccone in undisclosed roles. Perhaps one of them is voicing Black Doom, an evil character who will almost certainly appear in some way.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hits theaters on December 20th.