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My name is Bradley Gammel, and I'm an avid gamer and lover of cinema. My academic background features an English degree from Oklahoma State, and I am attending Pittsburgh State University as an MBA student.
Everyone’s favorite red echidna returns to our screens again, but this time in his Paramount+ mini-series. Thursday morning saw the release of the first Sonic the Hedgehog spinoff, Knuckles, starring Idris Elba, the voice of the beloved grumpy warrior. Now we can see what the foe turned from the second entry in the Sonic film franchise.
The trailer revealed that Knuckles is set to be a six-episode event exclusively streaming on Paramount+ in North America on April 26th. The trailer also reveals several returning voices and faces, such as Sonic and companion Knuckles and Tika Sumpter’s Maddie. To top it all off, Knuckles even fights Kid Cudi in the trailer, which is arguably the most significant selling point.
Knuckles at Super Bowl LVIII
Another look at Knuckles is set to appear during a Super Bowl LVIII TV spot this Sunday. The Super Bowl is an excellent spot for Paramount Pictures and Sega of America to debut more Knuckles and friends’ screen time, seeing that the big event will air on the Nickelodeon Network. It is an event where eagle-eyed fans of the Sonic franchise and other Paramount properties, such as the Halo series and more, will debut plenty of new shows and films.
Knuckles is set between the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and this year’s upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3, directed by Jeff Fowler, slated for release on December 20th. Idris Elba reprises his role as Knuckles, alongside returning series actor Adam Pally as Wade Whipple, whom Knuckles mentors in the ways of the Echidna warrior. Guest stars include Stockard Channing, Edi Patterson, Scott Mescudi, Ellie Taylor, Julian Barratt, Christopher Lloyd, Cary Elwes, Paul Scheer, Rory McCann, and Rob Huebel—Ben Schwartz and Colleen O’Shaughnessey voice Sonic and Tails, respectively, with Tika Sumpter returning as well to the Paramount series.
Knuckles History
Knuckles the Echidna is a character from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise created by Sega. He debuted in the 1994 video game Sonic the Hedgehog 3 as a rival to the title character. Knuckles is depicted as the guardian of the Master Emerald, which grants him the ability to sense chaos energy and control the elements. Initially tricked by Dr. Robotnik into believing Sonic is a threat to the island, Knuckles later becomes a valuable ally to Sonic and his friends, often teaming up with them to thwart Robotnik’s plans. Knuckles is known for his strength, tenacity, and sense of duty, making him a beloved character among franchise fans. Over the years, he has appeared in numerous video games, comics, animated series, and other media adaptations, solidifying his status as one of the iconic characters in the Sonic universe.
Knuckles’s latest appearance was in the Sonic Frontiers downloadable content (DLC) where Knuckles, Tails, and May became playable characters within the latest entry. This also serves as one of the better 3-D Sonic games. However, for 2-D Sonic fans, the beloved Sonic Mania is another great game starring Knuckles and friends. Until then, we can wait for the Super Bowl for more details on the Red Warrior.
If you are looking to catch up on the newest Sonic the Hedgehog games featuring Knuckles, then you can purchase a physical copy of Sonic Frontiers on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X in our Amazon Affiliates links!
You can also buy a copy of Sonic Mania for the Switch and PS4!
My name is Bradley Gammel, and I'm an avid gamer and lover of cinema. My academic background features an English degree from Oklahoma State, and I am attending Pittsburgh State University as an MBA student.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.