Sonic the Hedgehog film director promises character redesign after internet backlash

The internet has spoken, and surprisingly, Hollywood listened (are we actually living in the best timeline?). Sonic the Hedgehog’s highly-reviled look in the upcoming live-action movie adaptation of the classic Sega video game might actually change when the film releases this November. 

About 48 hours after the trailer dropped to worldwide condemnation, the flick’s director Jeff Fowler acknowledged the criticism over the iconic blue hedgehog’s design. He went on to assure that changes will happen and that the decision has the backing of both Hollywood studio Paramount Pictures and Sega. Whoa. 

Fowler’s announcement was in response to the thousands of articles, videos, and memes that emerged online — all of which ridiculed just how disturbing live-action Sonic looks. Especially his teeth (by Jove, they’re horrific). 

Fowler’s tweet was met with positive response (for the most part), including offers by fans to redo his depiction into something that’s closer to his video game origins. 

The Sega speedster’s design is one thing, but what if the actual movie itself turns out to be a bland, narrative mess? Judging from just the trailer itself, it appears to be that Jim Carrey — who’s playing an uncharacteristically slim villain mastermind Dr Robotnik — will be carrying the whole film on his back. 

One also has to remember that we’re just six months away from the actual release of the film — so how much redesign can they actually execute? Though the studio decision could result in happier fans, it would mean that hundreds of animators could be entering crunch time — they’ll have to work harder around the clock just to make the film release date.