by Tuesday PopeThe first Sonic the Hedgehog movie may very well be a miracle. Not only did the creators listen to fans and delayed the movie so there could be a redesign, but also it released with enough time to ensure a success before the covid 19 closures. Sonic in true fashion literally sped ahead of the pandemic and into our hearts. The movie itself is your standard child movie fare, but the charm and fun is undeniable. The movie also ends with a teaser of fan favorite Miles Tails Prower and Eggman looking more like his game self. What more could you ask for?
Three main players, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, and Jim Carrey have already expressed interest in wanting to return for a sequel and the fans desperately want to see more of the blue blue and friends on the silver screen. It’s no surprise a sequel will be hitting theaters on April 8th 2022. This date also gives plenty of distance from the current state of the world. While we can expect Tails to return, will Knuckles also LEGO shoe step his way into the film as well? We can hope considering echidnas were in the first Sonic the Hedgehog, but anything beyond what we’ve stated here is just pure speculation.
Not many were as lucky as Sonic. Mulan has had its date delayed indefinitely. This does not mean the movie is canned, it simply means a release date has not been given nor will be given for quite some time. Honestly a delay vs a limited or digital release behooves Mulan. For starters, this was the most expensive live action movie yet for Disney. Either methods mentioned above would not bring this movie a profit and Disney is not satisfied with potentially just breaking even. This also gives distance between the movie and the Hong Kong controversy. Liu Yifei, the actress of titular character Mulan, has stated support for China and against Hong Kong. Whether this is due to the pressures of succeeding in a Chinese dominated market or a move by her agents, we will never know. Many were planning to boycott the movie as a result of this in solidarity with Hong Kong. More time delayed means more time for people to forget.
Also facing delays are James Cameron’s Avatar sequels. They were slated for every other December starting in 2021 (alternating with Star Wars’ new trilogy rumored to be directed by the delightful Taika Waititi) but are now delayed by a year. It’s safe to assume Star Wars will be as well. James Cameron addresses this today in a heartfelt (and nerdy) message to fans. No one will feel this loss as greatly as Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
