Summary
Tika SumpterandJames Marsdenare the beating heart of theSonicfilm franchise.
Together, they are Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles loving adoptive parents, always along for the adventure.
COLLIDER: I actually am following you.
Image via Paramount Pictures
I was in Brazil at CCXP and was just a day behind on your schedule.
JAMES MARSDEN: How’s the sleep going?
Some melatonin is great.
Image via Paramount Pictures
But I have to ask you, what was it like for you guys down there?
Because I was in the room with you.
It’s so different from Comic-Con because that room is just acrazyroom.
I’m curious what it was like.
MARSDEN: It was our first time there.
You hadnt been before?
Image via Paramount Pictures
TIKA SUMPTER: I haven’t been there before, no.
MARSDEN: It was nuts.
Packed with people and packed with excitement.
Image via Paramount Pictures
The energy was off the charts.
But seeing that level of passion and enthusiasm, you don’t really get to see that much anymore.
SUMPTER: You hear about it.
Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance.
You hear, Oh, there are people excited to see the people.
MARSDEN: Yeah, real die-hard fans.
The movie premieres on December 25.
You’re like, Brazil!
This would be so fun.
SUMPTER: He walks around with applause.
What the hell is it like?
MARSDEN: It’s crazy.
So, it really speaks to the fans, the popularity of the movie.
SUMPTER: The writing, the directing.
MARSDEN: The writing, the passion, the performances.
We’ve got a really special formula going on with these movies.
You want to get it right.
SUMPTER: Youhaveto get it right, or you don’t get to make three!
MARSDEN: Yeah, exactly.
But hopefully, we keep introducing a new character each time.
At the UK premiere, every movie introduces a new character and the crowd went crazy.They went bananas.
SUMPTER: In the script, we found out.
MARSDEN: Yeah, I think.
I didnt read the script.
SUMPTER: You didnt.
I could tell on set.
MARSDEN: I don’t read scripts.
SUMPTER: It was in the script.
[Laughs]
MARSDEN: Was it really, though?
I dont remember if it was.
SUMPTER: Yeah, it was.
I remember reading it and not being able to tell my daughter.
MARSDEN: Maybe I read a different script.
Carrey discusses “settling for power napping” to take on two major roles in the franchise.
One of the things this film does so well is it actually is pretty emotional.
There’s an arc that I think is the best one yet.
Fans are going to love this.
Also, let’s not forget Keanu is in this as Shadow.
SUMPTER: I mean, come on.
MARSDEN: Of course.
What was it like for both of you realizing they’re going even further with this?
They’re being really ambitious and there are battlesinspace.It’s crazy.
MARSDEN: Like you said, too, there are some darker themes creeping in, as well.
We really do test the boundaries for a kids' movie.
I wouldn’t even call this a kids' movie.
SUMPTER: There are maturity levels to it.
MARSDEN: There is!
There’s some darkness there.
He’s got a chip on his shoulder.
We go for it a little bit.
It’s not anything thats going to turn the kids away, but it’s life.
There are a lot of life themes in there.
SUMPTER: It’s balanced out, also, with the humor.
There are a lot of Easter eggs.
There’s a lot of humor between the two Jims and also Sonic andhisfriends and Donut Lords sweater.
MARSDEN: Which is the darkest thing in the movie.
SUMPTER: [Laughs] Thanks to me!
Sonic the Hedgehog 3sprints into theaters on December 20.
With their abilities outmatched, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance.
