Jim Carrey is not quite done yet, even after announcing his retirement in 2022. The actor and comedian has recently reprised his role as Doctor Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, along with a stellar cast including Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba. Even so, Jim Carrey had a rather practical reason for returning as Eggman in the third iteration of the live-action Sonic and it’s something with which a lot of fans can probably relate.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Jim Carrey spoke about Sonic 3 and why he signed on for the third installment.
“I came back to this universe because, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch. And, you know, it’s just… I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly. Yeah,” recalled Jim Carrey.
You can basically ignore the first part if you want, as Carrey has been playing mad geniuses for some of his comedic career highlights (Ace Ventura, Batman Forever). The veteran actor didn’t exactly detail what he bought which necessitated a Hollywood film paycheck.
However, the speculations and rumors point to a $12 million earning for Jim Carrey in total for Sonic 3. To date, he’s the highest-billed actor among the live-action Sonic franchise cast, earning more than all the other actors combined– even counting just the first two films.
Jim Carrey Wanted to Take a Break Before
Still, Carrey, at one point, actually wanted to retire, specifically in 2022 after the second Sonic film. Back in April 2022, the Candian actor stated that Sonic 2 would be his last film, and he’s being ‘fairly serious’ though it also ‘depends.’
Carrey back then also claimed that he was taking a break but if ‘angels bring some sort of script that’s written in gold ink,’ then he might just be persuaded to come back to acting. It appears Sonic 3 is that script and the actor does enjoy playing as Dr. Eggman in the franchise.
Sonic 3 director Jeff Fowler even recalled that Jim Carrey created a whole new character within their established Sonic lore and went all in with the performance. The Eggman actor even got so immersed in the role, that he helped design the prosthetics. Not only did the mad genius villain come back, but he did twice the work.
Associated Press did ask Jim Carrey about what he said back in 2022, to which the actor replied that he might have been exaggerating with a ‘hyperbole.’ Still, Carrey was convinced that he’d done quite enough for his career and that he now enjoys a more quiet life with his newfound passion for painting.
It’s not clear what Jim Carrey’s plans are after Sonic 3, but this time he might actually retire, unless of course Sonic 4 happens and Dr. Eggman is still around.
