Behind the Scenes: How John Wick Became Keanu Reeves’ Ideal Audition for Shadow in Sonic 3

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 filmmaker Jeff Fowler has shared his insights regarding Keanu Reeves’ portrayal of Shadow, highlighting how the John Wick franchise served as an exceptional, albeit unique, “audition” for his role selection.

“I’d be untruthful if I said there wasn’t a clear connection between his portrayal in the John Wick movies and the essence we’re aiming to capture for Shadow,” Fowler expressed to SFX magazine during the original project, which showcases Doctor Who’s Christmas special ‘Joy to the Worlds’ on the cover and becomes available on December 3.

“Since Shadow, from a tonal perspective, is an anti-hero, he possesses a certain edginess,” he elaborated. “It felt like the ideal match for Keanu. He delivered such an impressive performance. He understood our vision and was enthusiastic about embodying the character and immersing himself in our universe.”

Not a subscriber to SFX yet? Then click here to seize the latest issue delivered directly to your home/device!

Alongside James Marsden and Jim Carrey, as well as the voice talents of Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Idris Elba, and Ben Schwartz, Sonic 3 features the blue protagonist teaming up with Tails and his former adversaries Knuckles and Dr. Robotnik to confront Shadow, a new enigmatic foe who remarkably resembles the sneaker-wearing speedster.

It appears that where everything in Sonic’s life “has gone right”, everything in Shadow’s “has gone wrong”, and this immensely powerful villain is determined to exact revenge on Sonic for allegedly stealing his chance at a perfect life.

The sequel zooms into theaters on December 20. Discover more in the latest edition of SFX magazine, which features Doctor Who’s Christmas special ‘Joy to the Worlds’ on the cover and becomes available on Tuesday, December 3. Check out the delightfully festive cover below…

For more from SFX, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter, delivering all the latest exclusives directly to your inbox.