Jim Carrey Cast As Dr. Robotnik In The ‘Sonic The Hedgehog’ Film
Things are ramping up and going fast for the Sonic the Hedgehog movie. Jim Carrey is in final negotiations to play Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik, a mad scientist and archenemy of Sonic.
Jeff Fowler, who received an Oscar nomination for his 2005 animated short Gopher Broke, is directing the film for Paramount. The film will be a mix of live-action and CGI elements.
Neal H. Moritz is producing the film, with Deadpool director Tim Miller executive producing, along with Mie Onishi and Toby Ascher. The script was written by Pat Casey and Josh Miller. James Marsden and Tika Sumpter are also starring in the film. The actors’ roles haven’t been disclosed at this time.
Based on the popular SEGA video game franchise, Sonic the Hedgehog centers on Sonic and his friends, Tails and Knuckles, who run around collecting items and points as they attempt to foil the global domination plans of Doctor Eggman Robotnik. The film adaptation was first announced in June 2014.
To many gamers of the ’90s that owned Sega’s Genesis/Mega Drive, Sonic’s nemesis only goes by one name: Dr. Ivo Robotnik. However, when Sonic made his big comeback on the Dreamcast with Sonic Adventure, Robotnik started being referred to as Eggman by every character in the game, and that name has stuck for more than 15 years.
In Japan, Robotnik has always been known as Dr. Eggman, perhaps as a punny reference to the classic Beatles pop song “I Am The Walrus.” When the original Genesis entry was packaged for overseas fans, Sega of America went with Robotnik instead, which then split his global naming convention right up until Sonic Adventure. Aside from a few winking acknowledgements of his Robotnik legacy, he’s been Eggman ever since.
Other major video game mascots with films in development include Universal’s Detective Pikachu, starring Ryan Reynolds, and a Mario film from Illumination.
Sonic the Hedgehog races into theaters on November 15, 2019.
Source: Deadline
