Sonic the Hedgehog 4: First Look at Metal Sonic Revealed

What Does Metal Sonic Look Like in Sonic the Hedgehog 4?

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has officially wrapped filming, and director Jeff Fowler marked the occasion with the franchise's first real look at Metal Sonic. As reported by Variety and the Hollywood Reporter, Fowler shared a behind-the-scenes photo posing with a figure of the iconic robot villain — offering the clearest preview yet of how Metal Sonic will appear in the live-action/animated hybrid film.

Metal Sonic is a near-perfect mechanical replica of Sonic, engineered to surpass the original in speed and combat. His introduction in the film franchise was teased in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. According to Collider, the fourth film is positioning Metal Sonic as "the scariest villain yet" in the series — a direct-combat threat unlike the more theatrical Robotnik.

Production on Sonic the Hedgehog 4 began in March 2026, with Fowler previously teasing the start of filming by sharing a look at Amy Rose's Piko Piko Hammer. The production wrap puts the film comfortably on track for its confirmed March 19, 2027 theatrical release.

Who Is in the Cast of Sonic the Hedgehog 4?

The fourth installment brings back virtually the entire cast. Ben Schwartz returns as the voice of Sonic, with Jim Carrey reprising his role as Dr. Robotnik. Keanu Reeves, who joined as Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, also returns alongside Idris Elba as Knuckles.

The supporting cast includes Kristen Bell, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Ben Kingsley, Matt Berry, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, Lee Majdoub, Nick Offerman, and Richard Ayoade. According to Deadline, director Jeff Fowler described Sonic the Hedgehog 4 as "the best Sonic movie yet" following the wrap of principal photography.

The Sonic film franchise has become one of the most commercially successful video game film adaptations in history. Each of the first three films broke domestic opening weekend records for game-based movies, building an audience that has closely followed every casting and production update.

When Does Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Release and What Should Fans Expect?

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is set for release on March 19, 2027. With production now complete, the studio moves into post-production and visual effects — meaning the first official trailer is likely to arrive in late 2026 as part of the film's marketing campaign.

Metal Sonic's role as the central villain raises the stakes significantly compared to previous entries. Unlike Robotnik, Metal Sonic offers a direct physical threat that mirrors Sonic's own capabilities — speed, agility, and combat — setting up a confrontation unlike anything the franchise has delivered on film so far.