WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS for Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Most tentpole movies now feature a gripping post-credits scene that invites the viewer to come back for the sequel. 2020's Sonic the Hedgehog featured two: a sneak peak at Tails’ and Robotnik's new look. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 post-credits scene essentially combines both themes by checking in on Robotnik and introducing a new character that is a huge surprise for fans of the Sonic franchise. Fair warning, this article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

The film's post-credits scene picks up right after the climatic battle between Robotnik's giant robot and Team Sonic (Sonic, Tails, Knuckles) where Robotnik is defeated by Super Sonic. G.U.N. (Guardian Unit of Nations), the organization formed in between the two films, is investigating the rubble left after the battle, searching for any sign of Robotnik. One of the agents alerts G.U.N. Commander Walters about a startling discovery: the 50-year old secret Project Shadow has been uncovered.

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Yes, the fan-favorite character, Shadow the Hedgehog, will be playing a part in the third Sonic movie. This undoubtedly throws many fans off guard, with some wondering if it is too early to bring him in. After all, Sonic Adventure 2, the game that Shadow was first introduced in, came out 10 years after Sonic's first outing on the Genesis/MegaDrive. By this time, the franchise had gained a huge amount of characters, and Shadow was simply introduced to this large ecosystem. In the context of the larger Sonic franchise in 2001, Shadow advanced Sonic’s character and gave the world a new direction. Introducing Shadow in the third film of the hedgehog’s cinematic universe may be a game-changer for the series.

The decision to include Shadow may have been out of the love for the character and the goal of throwing audiences off-guard. However, director Jeff Fowler stated in a recent interview that the franchise has "so many characters that you could pull in" and enjoyed the "very healthy debate online about who everyone was guessing was gonna be teased, and everyone having their picks, and hopes." Fowler, who worked on the cinematics for the character's 2005 spin-off game, Shadow the Hedgehog, fell in love with the titular character during that time. These factors may have led him to include the character's reveal at the end of the second Sonic film. What the reveal means for the Sonic Cinematic Universe has yet to be fully seen.

Shadow's backstory in the games is rather complex. He was created by Robotnik/Eggman's grandfather, Professor Gerald Robotnik using the DNA of an alien race known as the Black Arms. The purpose behind Shadow's creation was to search for a cure for the incurable disease N.I.D.S (Neuro-Immune Deficiency Syndrome), which Gerald's granddaughter, Maria Robotnik, suffers from. However, Shadow the Hedgehog was deemed to be a threat to humanity by G.U.N., causing the space colony (ARK) that Shadow, Maria, and Gerald resided on to be shut down. Everyone associated with the project was to be eliminated, including Maria, whom Shadow was rather close to.

Thus, Shadow was sealed in a capsule. Fifty years later, Eggman freed the hedgehog for his own plans of world domination. Shadow had his own plans, however, and simply used the mad doctor to rig up the Eclipse Cannon, the superweapon built into the Space Colony ARK. Then, he had a change of heart upon remembering Maria's true wish for Shadow: to protect the Earth. He teamed up with Sonic and his friends to stop the ARK from colliding with the Earth, sacrificing himself in the process (though he would be revived later due to fan demand).

While the third film might not follow that plot exactly, the introduction of Shadow potentially points to a darker sequel. Michael Beckwith’s article on Metro suggests several ways that Shadow can be incorporated. For starters, since it has been established that Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles live in a separate world from the humans on Earth, Shadow's presence would have to be explained. Although the fact that Master Emerald had been hiding on Earth may imply a stronger connection between Sonic's world and Earth than previously thought. Secondly, Beckwith suggests that if Maria is involved, Shadow’s animosity toward humans could stem from his thinking Maria was involved with his capture. On the flip side, he could be blaming humanity for her death. This could lead to Shadow attacking Sonic's surrogate human family. Either way, it would introduce some interesting themes for the third film.

Despite the appearance of Shadow in the post-credit scene, there has been no announcement of who will be voicing the character. Keanu Reeves is a popular choice among fans, as seen in a fan animation by Sonicpox (edited by @_hxzzk) Other choices, as detailed in Joshua Kristian McCoy’s article posted on GameRant, include Pedro Pascal, James McAvoy, Will Arnett, and the current voice actor for Shadow in the games, Kirk Thorton. If I were to throw my hat in the ring, I would cast the hedgehog's original English voice actor, David Humphrey, who voiced the character in the video games from 2001 to 2004. Whoever is ultimately selected to play the iconic character will have huge shoes to fill.

Is it too soon to include Shadow in the Sonic Cinematic Universe? How will they portray his backstory? Who will be chosen to play him? Hopefully, we will get answers before the release of the third film. Until then, we are free to speculate.

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