Keanu Reeves Teases How ‘Intense’ It Was Playing Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3: ‘Sonic’s No Match For Me’

Fans got everything they wanted when Keanu Reeves signed on to play Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The John Wick star has made headlines with each brief clip, capturing the imagination of the fanbase. In the latest promotional featurette, playfully titled Casting a Shadow, Reeves assures fans that “Sonic’s no match for me.”

Keanu Reeves Sums Up Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

The Casting a Shadow featurette focuses on Reeves’ work bringing Shadow to life on the big screen. Fellow cast members Jim Carrey, Idris Elba, and Ben Schwartz speak highly of Reeves’ tremendous legacy, tossing out a Matrix reference here and there for good measure. Of note, Carrey celebrates Reeves’ long-standing skillset in embodying “that brooding kind of darkness” that comes through in Shadow. Elba fondly notes the “icon status” that Reeves brings to any project. Schwartz notes the “anger and determination” in Keanu’s voice. For his part, Reeves sells the “intensity” he provides in the vocal booth while also discussing the emotional journey his character undertakes. It’s impressive to watch the difference in personality between Reeves and Schwartz footage in the booth. All this insider information comes alongside footage from the stellar second trailer.

Related: The Director of All 3 Sonic the Hedgehog Movies Has a History with Shadow

When he’s not helping to drag the video game movie genre to new heights, Reeves stars in new adventures and familiar follow-ups. He recently brought the John Wick franchise to a satisfying conclusion in its fourth entry, but he’ll be back for the spinoff, Ballerina. Also next year, Reeves is set to co-star in Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut, Good Fortune, and Jonah Hill’s Outcome. He’s also just in a few video games, including playing Shadow in Shadow Generations and reprising his role as Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk: 2077‘s DLC. Reeves will also soon make his Broadway stage debut in a 2025 production of Waiting for Godot.

We all knew Reeves would be the best imaginable choice for Shadow, but he continues to reinforce that with each appearance. Finally, fans can see the intensity for themselves when Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sprints into theaters on December 20th, 2024.