Keanu Reeves to Voice Shadow in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’

From hit man to hedgehog.

“John Wick” leading man Keanu Reeves will voice Shadow in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” a source confirmed to Variety. He joins a cast that includes Ben Schwartz as Sonic, as well as Jim Carrey as the villainous Dr. Robotnik. A spokesperson for Paramount Pictures, the studio behind the film, declined to comment.

More from Variety

• Cameron Diaz in Talks to Join Keanu Reeves in Jonah Hill-Directed Dark Comedy 'Outcome'

• 'Knuckles' Trailer Reveals Idris Elba's 'Sonic the Hedgehog' Spinoff Series on Paramount+

• Adam Devine, J.K. Simmons Join Voice Cast of 'Hypergalactic' Animated Feature from 'Sonic' Designer Naoto Oshima

In the games, Shadow, an anthropomorphic hedgehog (his fur is black, whilst Sonic’s is blue), is an antihero of sorts. He’s also often an antagonist to Sonic.

Reeves’ credits include “Speed,” “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” and “My Own Private Idaho,” as well as the “Matrix” franchise. He will next appear in the “John Wick” spinoff, “Ballerina,” opposite Ana de Armas (his character’s reveal in a new trailer that dropped last week at CinemaCon got huge applause from the crowd of movie theater executives, a sign of the actor’s box office prowess). Reeves is also set to co-star in “Good Fortune” alongside Aziz Ansari, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer and Sandra Oh.

Jeff Fowler, who oversaw the first two “Sonic” movies, is returning as the director on the latest sequel. Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara and Hitoshi Okuno will produce “Sonic 3,” which will open in theaters on Dec. 20, 2024.

The franchise is one of Paramount’s most successful, with the combined global box office for “Sonic the Hedgehog” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” standing at $725.2 million. The studio is also making a spin-off series, “Knuckles,’” that will premiere on Paramount+.

Reeves’ casting in “Sonic 3″ was first reported on” The John Campea Show.”

Best of Variety

• New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 

• From 'The Sympathizer' to 'Three-Body Problem': The Best Book-to-Screen Adaptations to Read This Year

• What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2024

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.