Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will continue the incredible live-action story of one of gaming’s most popular characters, but I am not ready for one particular Shadow scene. With the franchise scheduled to return for its third installment on December 20, 2024, I can’t wait to see what the movie series comes up with next; however, nothing can prepare me for one iconic Shadow scene. Sonic 2‘s after-credits scene teased Shadow the Hedgehog, who is confirmed to appear in the next film, and while his debut will undoubtedly be a massive highlight, one shocking scene looks destined to happen.

Shadow is easily one of the Sonic franchise’s most popular characters, with the anti-hero offering a darker tone to Sonic’s traditionally light-hearted story. Shadow will be played by Keanu Reeves in Sonic 3, adding to the hype around the character, and making his role even bigger. Given Reeves is one of the most likable actors around, I’m intrigued to see him playing a morally gray character, but he is more than capable of pulling this role off. Despite this, the character’s darkest scene will leave plenty of viewers stunned, and I’m still not ready for it.

Maria’s Death Is Coming In Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Shadow’s Origin Story Makes Maria’s Sonic 3 Death Inevitable

With Shadow confirmed for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Maria’s death seems unavoidable. Maria will also appear in Sonic 3 alongside Shadow, but her role may be limited given her death is a huge part of the anti-hero’s backstory. With Sonic 2‘s post-credit scenes showing Shadow in some sort of capsule in a secret facility, it seems likely that Sonic 3 will follow his traditional origin story. Maria Robotnik is a huge part of Shadow’s origins as the anti-hero was created by Gerald Robotnik in the hope of curing his granddaughter, but this story has a tragic ending.

Maria’s kind and warm nature inspired Shadow as the two shared a connection and friendship, seemingly setting Shadow on the right path. However, despite Shadow being designed to cure Maria, his creation inadvertently led to her death. After finding out about Gerald’s experiment, the Guardian Units of Nations raided Gerald’s Space Colony Ark in an attempt to shut down Project Shadow. This violent raid led to many innocent lives being taken, including Maria’s, who was gunned down in front of Shadow after helping him to an escape pod.

While Shadow has had some slightly different origin stories in different Sonic iterations, this is the version often considered canon, and it looks like Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is about to repeat it. Given the first two films and the Knuckles spinoff show were both family-orientated, I’m not prepared to see how the next movie executes this scene. It’s possible that it doesn’t show the gunshot itself, but even if this moment is somewhat censored, Sonic 3 including the storyline of a child being murdered is something I never thought would happen, and I don’t know how to feel.

Shadow The Hedgehog’s Origin Story Is Tragically Iconic

Shadow Has One Of The Most Memorable Origin Stories In The Sonic Franchise

Although some Sonic fans may find this scene hard to watch, it is undoubtedly a major part of Shadow’s tragically iconic backstory. The mature and emotional nature of Shadow’s origins stands out compared to most other characters in the franchise, which is why fans love it so much. Sonic 3 may avoid making Shadow’s character too dark as he has been criticized for being overly edgy in the past, but when done right, Shadow is easily one of the franchise’s best characters, which is why his history is so crucial.

Despite how shocking Maria’s death is, it sets Shadow up as the perfect anti-hero as he has plenty of hate in his heart after GUN’s attack, yet he also holds onto Maria’s desire to protect the world from danger. This makes his association with violence and anarchy misunderstood, as Shadow actually has good motivations despite his cynical nature. While Maria’s death is easily among the franchise’s most tragic moments, Shadow’s backstory remains one of the most memorable origins in the entire franchise, adding to why he is such a great character.

Why Shadow Will Steal The Show In Sonic The Hedgehog 3

The Anti-Hero Is One Of The Franchise’s Most Popular Characters

Given Sonic the Hedgehog 3 looks poised to include Shadow’s tragic origin story, I have no doubt he will steal the show. Although it looks like Shadow may be an enemy to Sonic in the next movie, he won’t be the movie’s true villain, making his less traditional form of heroism all the more entertaining. With Keanu Reeves having decades of acting experience, I can’t wait to see him bring his expertise to the character and elevate him further. Although Reeves usually plays heroes, he has a calm yet gritty nature to his acting that will fit Shadow perfectly.

Reeves’ involvement also makes a Shadow spinoff seem inevitable, meaning his introduction in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will likely be memorable. The character’s more ruthless aura will contrast with the likes of Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails, offering something completely different for the franchise. While Jim Carrey has done an excellent job portraying Dr. Robotnik, the antagonist has been a more comedic character despite his evil plans, whereas Shadow will bring an entirely different tone to Sonic 3, setting up a show-stealing performance.

Even though Sonic the Hedgehog will probably continue past its third movie, Sonic 3 will feel like the biggest film yet thanks to Shadow. His intensity and determination to keep Maria’s memory alive will make him a one-of-a-kind character that has fans glued to their seats, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the franchise utilizes him. Thankfully, the performance and quality of the previous movies only reinforce my confidence that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will get the best out of Shadow, making him one of the film’s highlights and becoming a fan favorite in the process.