The video game movie genre continues to try and find its footing, with more and more iconic brands getting in on the action. Franchises like Assassin's Creed and Tomb Raider have attempted to break the video game movie curse over the last few years with varying degrees of success, and Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the next properties up to plate. Now, the Sonic the Hedgehog movie has finally found its lead actor in the form of Westworld and X-Men franchise star James Marsden.
As reported by Variety, Westworld actor James Marsden has officially joined the cast of the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog movie, making him the first principal actor to sign on for the project. Behind the scenes, the film will be produced by Fast and Furious franchise producer Neal Moritz and executive produced by Deadpool director Tim Miller, and it will mark the feature film debut of Jeff Fowler. The film will reportedly be a live-action and animation hybrid, but we don't know if Marsden will provide a voice for an animated character or show up in person.
Making the jump to a Sonic the Hedgehog movie seems like a fitting move for someone like James Marsden. The Westworld actor has proven that he knows his way around an action sequence over the years, but he has also shown quite a bit of strength in the comedy genre with his performances in 30 Rock, Sex Drive, and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. If he can combine those qualities, then he could be very successful in the Sonic movie.
The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise is one of the most beloved and iconic series for the SEGA. The games focus on the titular animal, who uses his super speed to battle the evil Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik. That's the basic plot of most major Sonic games, but we will have to wait and see how the live-action element blends in with the animation.
The announcement of James Marsden stepping in for the lead role in the Sonic the Hedgehog movie comes on the heels of the other recent report suggesting that Paramount was actually looking at Ant-Man star Paul Rudd to take on the lead role. Those rumors were debunked, and now Marsden is in place to play the film's lead.
The Sonic the Hedgehog movie is one of many different pieces of intellectual property that Paramount is set to adapt over the course of the next few years. Historically, the studio has seen success with franchises like Transformers and G.I. Joe, so it looks like the powers that be seem keen to continue making movies that appeal to 1980s and 1990s nostalgia -- which is something that a Sonic the Hedgehog movie could most certainly accomplish.
The Sonic the Hedgehog movie is currently set to debut in theaters on November 15, 2019. Stay tuned for more details related to the film, and head over to our movie premiere guide to see what else is coming this year!
