Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is an upcoming American action-adventure comedy film based on the Sonic video game series. The fourth in the Sonic film series, it is being directed by Jeff Fowler. The film will star Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves, Lee Majdoub, James Marsden, and Tika Sumpter, who will return in their roles from previous films in the series. Kristen Bell joins the film's voice cast as Amy Rose, while Richard Ayoade, Matt Berry, Nick Offerman, and Ben Kingsley have also been cast in undisclosed roles.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 was reported to be in development in December 2024, just before the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024). Fowler and the producers were confirmed to return once again soon after. Bell joined the cast in February 2026 and principal photography began in March 2026. The cast was confirmed in March 2026, alongside the film's title announcement. The film will draw elements from the video game Sonic CD (1993).
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is scheduled to be released by Paramount Pictures in the United States on March 19, 2027.
Additionally, Ben Kingsley, Nick Offerman, Matt Berry, and Richard Ayoade will appear in undisclosed roles, with Kingsley and Offerman's roles being voices.
The character of Metal Sonic will appear in the film. It is currently unknown if anyone will be voicing Metal Sonic or if he will be a non-speaking character, as is the case in most of his appearances in other Sonic media.
In September 2024, producer Toby Ascher stated that additional installments were planned for the Sonic the Hedgehog film series. In November 2024, it was revealed by director Jeff Fowler that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 would tease new characters to appear in a fourth film. Sonic the Hedgehog 3s mid-credits scene features Amy Rose saving Sonic by smashing an army of Metal Sonics. According to writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller, Amy had been considered for a larger role in the film, but was excluded so that the script could focus on Shadow the Hedgehog. In December 2024, the fourth film was officially greenlit. Fowler returned to direct, and Toku Nakahara, as well as Neal H. Moritz and Toby Ascher of Original Film returned to produce.
Later in December 2024, Casey and Miller expressed interest in taking Sonic on adventures to worlds beyond Earth. In January 2025, concept art for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was released online by Tacit Sign Studio, including art depicting Amy and Metal Sonic in scenes either not present or significantly different in the final film. Though the art was later removed, its release fueled fan theories that Sonic the Hedgehog 4 would take inspiration from Sonic CD, which was the debut of both Amy and Metal Sonic in the games. In response to the speculation, Miller said it could not be openly discussed at that time as those elements may potentially appear in future films. Fowler acknowledged the connection to CD, saying that their simultaneous introduction was intended to "honor that chronology", but stated that the film's story would not be solely based on CD.
Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba, and Jim Carrey had expressed interest in reprising their roles from previous installments. In February 2026, Kristen Bell was cast as the voice of Amy, with Ben Schwartz returning to reprise his role as Sonic. In March, journalist Jeff Sneider indicated that Ben Kingsley was cast in "a key role". The rest of the cast was revealed later that month, including Nick Offerman in the voice cast; Offerman and Bell had previously appeared alongside Schwartz in the television series Parks and Recreation. Additionally, it was announced that Matt Berry and Richard Ayoade had also joined the cast in undisclosed roles.
Fowler stated in a January 2025 interview that someone could be cast as the voice of Metal Sonic, saying that although the character does not speak in most appearances, the possibility of the film version of the character having a voice was likely to be raised during the film's scripting process.
Principal photography began on March 2, 2026, with Fowler announcing it on social media by a picture of him holding Amy's hammer.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 19, 2027, by Paramount Pictures.
A teaser trailer was released on March 19, 2026, featuring Jim Carrey reprising his role as Dr. Ivo Robotnik. Carrey's return was considered particularly notable, given a recent awards appearance that sparked conspiracies of cloning or impersonation, and the fact that Carrey variously mentioned retirement in the past. The chaos emeralds in the teaser, and the use of the "Sonic Boom" theme from Sonic CD were also subjects of commentary.