One of the former voice actors of Shadow the Hedgehog, Jason Griffith, gave his opinion on casting Keanu Reeves for Shadow in the upcoming thirdSonic the Hedgehogfilm. After several rumors and theories, it has finally been confirmed thatKeanu Reeves will be playing Shadow the Hedgehogin the upcomingSonic 3movie. The cast ofSonic 3is already filled with notable actors like Ben Schwartz and Idris Elba as Sonic and Knuckles, with Reeves as Shadow having been a widely lauded choice for Sonic’s edgy rival. Before this reveal, there were a number of rumors that said Shadow would be played by one of his previous actors, Jason Griffith.
Jason Griffith is a longtime voice actor for theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise, having started playing the titular character in theSonic Xanime series. Throughout 2004-2010, Griffith would continue playing Sonic and Shadow in the games. While many fans were split on the casting of Griffith as both Sonic and Shadow in the past, there were as many fans who were nostalgic and praised his performances as both hedgehogs. Both of his roles would be given to other actors in the mid-2010s, with Sonic and Shadow being played by Roger Craig Smith and Kirk Thornton in the games starting withSonic Free Riders.
While the rumors about his involvement inSonic 3turned out to be false, Griffith gave his take on Reeves taking up the reins as Shadow for the big screen in an interview with TMZ. Griffith first listed some of Keanu’s past roles that fit Shadow’s character, such as John Wick, stating that it was an “excellent” casting choice. Griffith recalls when there wererumors of Shadow the Hedgehog’s potential actor, Reeves being one of them, he states that he wanted Reeves himself.
Jason Griffith’s Reaction to Keanu Reeves in Sonic 3
Griffith then brings up how fans speculated that he’d be the voice ofSonic’s longtime rivalin the movie, to which he remembers telling fans he didn’t know anything about it. In regard to not being asked to reprise the role of Shadow, he notes that there was no bitterness behind the decision, stating that if he was bitter, he’d be throwing away his career just because he wasn’t going to play one character.
When asked if Griffith had any tips for Reeves to keep in mind when playing Shadow, Griffith notes that at the end of the day,Shadow is an anti-hero character. Despite the character’s dour demeanor and currently antagonistic role inSonic 3, Shadow ultimately fights for the good of humanity, unlike Dr. Eggman. Griffith then says “just be yourself Keanu.” Much like a lot of fans, Griffith is very excited about seeing Shadow’s debut on the big screen later this year.
Sonic X Shadow Generations
WHERE TO PLAY
THE RETURN OF SHADOWIn this new standalone campaign, Shadow’s nemesis, Black Doom, has reemerged and threatens to take over the world once again. Shadow must journey into his past, confront his painful memories, and unlock new dark powers to save the world.
SHADOW EVOLVEDHarness Shadow’s new Doom Powers to battle hordes of enemies and tackle platforming challenges like never before. Surf on water, fly over obstacles, and stop time with the return of Chaos Control!A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME AND DIMENSIONSExperience the ultimate showdown between Shadow and Black Doom in a new boss battle that will test your skills and reflexes. Use all of Shadow’s abilities to defeat Black Doom and save the world!EXPLORE THE NEW WHITE SPACEStretch your legs in an all-new hub world inspired by the open-zone gameplay of Sonic Frontiers. As Shadow gains new powers, he can explore further and uncover the secrets hidden throughout!
