Sonic The Hedgehog 'lands sequel' after expensive re-design impressed fans

It seems the powers behind Sonic The Hedgehog are capitalising on the goodwill of cinemagoers by working on a sequel to the live-action flick, according to reports.

While the first trailer of the gaming-inspired film, which dropped earlier this year and starred Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic and Jim Carrey as Doctor Robotnik, failed to impress punters, an expensive edit and re-design of the furry character won over viewers, taking $306million (£248m) at the box office.

So, of course the natural reaction is to wring it for all its worth with a sequel, non?

According to Variety, Paramount Pictures and Sega Sammy are working on a follow-up movie to the action-adventure comedy, with Jeff Fowler – who helmed the OG – coming back to direct the second movie.

It’s also been reported Josh Miller and Pat Casey are to co-write the script once again.

However, in news that may disappoint some fans, it’s not yet known whether Carrey (who delighted audiences) or Schwartz will reprise their roles.

Are we all that surprised anyway? After all, Fowler had previously told us he’d be up for a sequel.

The first film also starred James Marsden as Sonic’s new best friend Tom, as the speedy blue hedgehog tried to stop evil Robotnik.

It was mired in controversy, with the release date pushed back, after fan backlash to the initial design of the hedgehog.

But in February, Carrey admitted he thought the redesign made the motion picture ‘much better’.

He said: ‘It turned out to be a co-op where everybody was in on the creation. I think everybody felt good about it because ultimately Jeff Fowler (had) no ego involved at all.

‘He just went, “These people grew up with it, and it’s important to them that we get it right.” And I think it was just a much better movie because of it.’

The 58-year-old actor had previously expressed concern about audiences getting involved in the design of characters.

He said: ‘I don’t know quite how I feel about the audience being in on the creation of it, while it’s happening.

‘Sometimes you find that the collective consciousness decides it wants something and then when it gets it, it goes, “OK, I don’t want it”… You become a Frankenstein’s monster at some point, right?’