Idris Elba Reveals What Happens If Knuckles Meets Super Mario

What would happen if Knuckles met Super Mario in an epic clash of video game icons? According to Idris Elba, it would be incredibly amicable.

The actor, who voices Knuckles in upcoming Sonic The Hedgehog spinoff series Knuckles on Paramount+, shared his insight during the London premier.

“I think they’d get on,” Idris tells Men’s Journal. “I think Mario and Knuckles would get on because Knuckles is a simple guy, Mario is a simple guy. I think they’re both problem-solvers. And I think they’re both strong. So I think that can happen.”

Does that suggest a potential meeting between Knuckles and Mario in a future team-up movie? Probably not. While the characters both have rich histories across hundreds of video games, they now occupy very different cinematic universes.

Knuckles is part of the Sonic-verse, which kicked off with 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog, and will continue with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on 20 December, 2024. It sees the powerful talking echidna train deputy sheriff Wade Whipple (Adam Pally) to become a warrior.

Mario, meanwhile, is part of the Mario-verse, established with 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Nintendo confirmed it’s working on the sequel with Sony, ready for a 2026 release.

So while it’s unlikely we’ll see Knuckles and Mario meet on-screen any time soon, Idris’ words paint an idealized communion between the two. No fighting, just vibes.

Watch the trailer before Knuckles spins onto Paramount+.