Sonic the Hedgehog 2: what we learned from the first trailer

Prepare to put a ring on it as the action-packed Sonic the Hedgehog 2 trailer makes its online debut. The Sega icon builds on the success of his 2020 feature film debut, currently the highest-grossing video game movie of all time. The makers of the Fast and the Furious and Deadpool now present the second chapter in the video game franchise, so scroll down to discover all the important moments from the trailer.

1. It continues Sonic's adventures on Earth

Voiced once again by Ben Schwartz, Sonic struggles to find the right focus, particularly when it comes to apprehending criminals in his new home, Green Hills. He also has a problem interpreting motivational speeches from his human friend Tom Wachowski (a returning James Marsden).

2. Jim Carrey returns in the classic Eggman garb

The mid-credits scene of the first Sonic movie teased Carrey in the classic Sega get-up: corset, oversized moustache and goggles. This is the familiar and fan-pleasing Doctor Robotnik aesthetic in the first movie as the evil villain (aka Eggman) returns to Earth from outer space for nefarious purposes. Expect plenty more rubber-faced mugging from your resident mugger-in-chief, Carrey.

3. Tails appears with her biplane

Sonic's most loyal ally from the Sega videogames finally makes her feature film debut. Tails is voiced by Colleen O'Shaugnessy who has portrayed Tails in the Sonic video game franchise since 2014. Fans of OG Sonic levels such as Sky Chase Zone (from the game Sonic the Hedgehog 2) will surely get a kick from the fact that Tails appears in her signature mode of transport, a biplane.

4. The Chaos Emerald plays a big part

It had been rumoured that the Chaos Emerald, a classic bit of OG Sonic lore, would be involved in the movie. The trailer confirms it with a shot of the all-powerful gemstone although we're not sure how the Chaos Emerald is central to Robotnik's plans. The official plot synopsis indicates that the emerald "has the power to both build and destroy civilisations".

5. Knuckles is on Robotnik's side

Again, as per the lore of the original Sega games, red echidna Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) is allied with Robotnik against Sonic. In the games Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic and Knuckles, Robotnik had convinced Knuckles that Sonic was actually a bad guy. We wait to see if this dynamic is going to be translated into the movie.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is released in Cineworld cinemas on 8th April 2022.