Sonic the Hedgehog officially meets Knuckles in the latest clip from Paramount Pictures’ upcoming video game sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Released courtesy of the official Paramount Pictures YouTube channel, the fan-favorite red echidna makes an explosive entrance in the footage, demonstrating his tremendous strength as he teams up with the villainous Dr. Robotnik.

Sonic fans are understandably excited to see Knuckles’ debut on the silver screen, and this clip is sure to add to the already palpable levels of childlike glee. Voiced by The Suicide Squad and The Jungle Book star Idris Elba, Knuckles is sure to add another level of danger and menace to proceedings, as he unites with Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik to take down Sonic the Hedgehog.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 brings the world’s favorite blue hedgehog back to theaters for a next-level adventure. After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search of an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations.

Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands. From the filmmakers behind The Fast and the Furious and Deadpool, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 stars James Marsden, Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Lee Majdoub and Jim Carrey returning, alongside new additions Shemar Moore, with Idris Elba as the voice of Knuckles and Colleen O’Shaughnessey as the voice of Tails.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is Due for Release in Theaters on April 8

Sonic-2-Poster
Paramount Pictures Studios

Audiences don’t have to wait too much longer to see more of Sonic and Knuckles in action, with Sonic the Hedgehog 2 scheduled for theatrical release in the United States on April 8, 2022, by Paramount Pictures in association with Sega Sammy Group.

Director Jeff Fowler has previously teased Knuckles’ crucial role in the sequel, comparing the character to such threatening movie icons The Terminator and Marvel’s The Winter Soldier. “I always have kind of joked he’s like the Terminator or the Winter Soldier coming into our movie world where he’s spent his life training to be a warrior,” the filmmaker explained. “The echidnas are all about honor. Everything about him is a total contrast to Sonic. Sonic has no training. Sonic sort of flies by the seat of his pants, he has no discipline, and Knuckles is all disciplined. So it was always about, sort of from a storytelling standpoint, all of the great contrasts we could create between these two characters, and just put them on a collision course in a really great way, and just see that Sonic’s got a lot to learn.”

Paramount Pictures clearly has big plans for both the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and Knuckles beyond the upcoming second outing, with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 confirmed back in February alongside a spin-off series centered on Knuckles.