Director Jeff Fowler had no hesitation in casting Keanu Reeves as the voice of Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
The filmmaker, known for his work on the Sonic franchise, found Reeves’ portrayal of John Wick in the action series to be the perfect match for the iconic Sega antagonist.
In a recent interview with SFX, Fowler, 46, shared how Reeves’ edginess in the John Wick films directly aligned with the tone of Shadow. “I’d be lying if I didn’t say there was just an obvious corollary between his performance in the ‘John Wick’ films and the vibe we’re trying to channel for Shadow,” Fowler explained. “Because Shadow, from a tonal standpoint, is such an anti-hero, he’s got a little edginess to him.”
Fowler emphasized how Shadow’s character required someone who could embody a gritty, rebellious anti-hero persona, which made Reeves the perfect fit. “It felt like the perfect fit for Keanu. He gave such a great performance,” Fowler noted, praising Reeves for his contribution to the project.
The director also revealed that Reeves was deeply committed to the role, putting in a lot of effort to understand the character.
“He knew what we were after and was excited about playing the character and coming into our world,” Fowler added, highlighting the actor’s dedication to bringing Shadow to life.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is shaping up to be a star-studded affair, with Jim Carrey playing a pivotal role in the movie. The voice cast also includes Idris Elba, Ben Schwartz, and, of course, Keanu Reeves, adding to the anticipation for the upcoming action-adventure film.
With the movie’s high-profile cast and Reeves’ exciting new role, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 promises to deliver an unforgettable experience for fans.