Be aware that spoilers for Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice are in play here.

James Marsden and Ben Schwartz remain synonymous with each other, thanks to their roles in the successful Sonic the Hedgehog films. What’s interesting about those films, though, is that the pair don’t physically appear alongside each other in those films due to the fact that Schwartz voices the eponymous hedgehog. More recently, the pair finally had a chance to work on a different movie, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice and, ironically, they hilariously still didn’t share scenes. And CinemaBlend spoke about that fact with the movie’s director.

Seriously, what are the odds that after years of working together (or apart?) on the Sonic movies, Schwartz and Marsden would land an entirely different film that still wouldn’t require them to be on set together? When CinemaBlend spoke to BenDavid Grabinski, the writer/director of (the well reviewed) Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, we asked if the Sonic connection between his two actors was evident to him. Grabinski said he made the link but as “an accident,” and he explained how one of his past productions tied into Sega’s mascot:

That’s an interesting coincidence as well, though I just can’t get my mind off the fact that Marsden and Schwartz don’t share any scenes together. In the movie, Marsden plays Mike, a mob enforcer looking to leave his violent life behind and start a new one with Alice (the wife of his best friend, Nick). Meanwhile, Schwartz plays Symon, an inventor friend of Alice who’s inadvertently killed at the beginning of the film. While I would’ve liked for the two actors to share the screen, Grabinski revealed that he found that irony a bit amusing:

Something that’s hard to argue with when it comes to Grabinski’s sentiments is the fact that both Ben Schwartz and James Marsden fit their respective roles. Marsden brings a seasoned but somewhat wide-eyed vibe to Mike, who has to wrap his head around the fact that a version of Nick has traveled from the future to save him from getting killed. As for Schwartz, he absolutely crushes the minimal screentime he has as Symon, and he really goes for it in that opening scene in which he sings “Why Should I Worry?” from Oliver & Company. So, all in all, there’s a comfort in knowing that Marsden and Schwartz deliver in their roles.

Of course, M&N&N&A won’t be the final time that Marsden and Schwartz’s names share a marquee. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 was formally announced at the end of 2025, and production in progress. Schwartz – who has been praised for his portrayal of Sonic – recently posted about the film when sharing a sweet photo with Kristen Bell, the voice of Amy Rose in the movie.

In the meantime, though, I’d recommend checking out Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, which I’d argue is one of the most entertaining films to come out of the 2026 movie schedule thus far. While there’s no scene involving both James Marsden and Ben Schwartz, BenDavid Grabinski’s film offers up time travel-based thrills, comedy and some bloody action. Check it out now by streaming it with a Hulu subscription.

There are spoilers for Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice in the mix here, so be aware of that fact as you read on.

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is an exciting entry on the 2026 movie schedule, and the film even starts with a bang. I’m not speaking figuratively either, as the opening scene depicts a character having the time of their life before being shot to death. What’s even more ironic about the scene is that the character who dies is played by a fan-favorite actor. The time travel flick’s writer/director, BenDavid Grabinski, talked to CinemaBlend about how that moment came together, and it wasn’t exactly a small feat.

At the start of M&N&N&A, viewers are introduced to Symon, who is played by none other than Ben Schwartz. The wide-eyed inventor of the time machine that serves as the catalyst for the film, Symon is shown enthusiastically singing to Billy Joel’s “Why Should I Worry?” from Oliver & Company. (It’s a tune that belongs on the list of most uplifting Disney songs). The quirky scientist is taken aback, however, when an unseen figure (later revealed to be Nick, who was collecting a debt), kills him.

Just as Grabinski thoughtfully crafted the crazy ending of his latest film, he was also careful in regard to how he approached its opening scene. Grabinski revealed to us that, as seen in the video above, that there was one detail that made the prologue “tricky”:

All of that was just a part of the equation as the Happily helmer also had to hire who he believed would be the right actor to play Symon. Grabinski shared some insight into what led him to the delightful Schwartz:

BenDavid Grabinski explained that after Schwartz was sent the script, he responded positively but admitted to being a bit “confused” due to only being sent a paragraph-long scene that ends with his character being shot. However, after Grabinski reached out and walked the Parks & Recreation alum through everything, he was completely on board. And, according to Grabinski, the actor’s enthusiasm only grew with time:

I can completely understand Grabinski's desire to have Ben Schwartz play Symon, who also appears later in the film during a scene set before his death. What I love about Schwartz is that he always conveys a natural buoyancy that shines through in many of his roles, regardless of if they’re live-action or voiceover-based. I’d argue that’s a big reason why Schwartz is so perfect in the role of Sonic the Hedgehog, and his upbeat vibe is also a testament to the actor’s campaign to play DC’s Plastic Man.

Symon aside, there are plenty of reasons to check out the well reviewed Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice with a Hulu subscription. There’s action, comedy and some solid sci-fi based thrills that are sure to delight viewers. So check it out now (and don’t be surprised if you find yourself singing along to “Why Should I Worry?” during the opening scene).

Of all the upcoming action movies headed our way in the coming months, I can safely say that Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is the only one that, after first watching the trailer, I said, “Wait, what is this movie about?” It seems Mike and Nick are in love with the same woman — Alice, naturally — which seems pretty straightforward until you throw in the time travel. Critics screened the movie before it hit the 2026 movie calendar, and they’re here to help us sort through it.

The cast is promising, starring James Marsden as Mike, Vince Vaughn as Nick and Eiza González as Alice. Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice’s supporting cast is equally as stellar, according to Kristy Puchko of Mashable, especially Ben Schwartz, but also Keith David, Jimmy Tatro, Emily Hampshire, Stephen Root and more. The critic calls this “defiantly outside the box” adventure a “must-see crowd-pleaser,” writing:

RogerEbert’s Brian Tallerico rates the movie 3 out of 4 stars, loving how BenDavid Grabinski pushes back against the sanding down of streaming originals. Vince Vaughn, meanwhile, does his best work in years in the dual roles of Nick and “Future Nick,” who travels back in time to right a wrong he committed against Mike. The critic writes:

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY also gives Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice 3 stars out of 4, writing that it doesn’t quite make the most of its time-travel premise but can be forgiven because it delivers a unique story, colorful personalities and a sneakily heartwarming message. Truitt continues:

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo says there’s “so much hilarious randomness” in Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice that you can’t help but “bask in that glorious excess and passion.” The movie gives off vibes of, “Let’s do this just because it’s cool and fun,” Lussier writes, and while he says it all probably shouldn’t work, it very, very much does. The critic says:

Jesse Hassenger of AV Club, meanwhile, doesn’t share the above opinions, giving the movie a C- and calling it a “strenuous misfire.” The critic gives Vince Vaughn credit for imparting genuine pathos into his “future” character, but overall, the time travel element of the movie seems to be just for marketing purposes. Hassenger explains:

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice sounds like a bizarre and fun time, given what the critics are saying (the title alone indicates some silliness is afoot). It’s garnered a 74% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and if this sounds like a good way to spend 107 minutes, the time-travel gangster flick is available to stream now with a Hulu subscription.

When it comes to video game movie adaptations that have been released over the past several years, few have found as much success as the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. SEGA’s lovable, blue character and his allies have been tearing up the box office, so it’s no surprise that a fourth film is currently in the works. Now, in an exciting turn of events, Kristen Bell has been tapped to join the cast in a major role. With that, she recently reunited with Sonic voice actor Ben Schwartz for a truly adorable photo.

It was announced this week that Kristen Bell would be lending her voice-acting talents to the role of Amy Rose, who was briefly introduced during a Sonic 3 post-credits scene. That confirmation is sweet enough on its own, but what’s even better is that Bell and Ben Schwartz signified the occasion by sporting sweaters and posing for a photo. Not only that, but the pair also hold adorable figurines of their respective characters. Take a look at the snapshot, which Schwartz posted to Instagram:

This is indeed a sweet reunion that I can get behind! Bell and Schwartz previously worked together on the (underrated) Showtime dramedy series House of Lies. Obviously, the kid-centric Sonic the Hedgehog 4 marks a very different kind of collaboration for the two actors. All in all, I think this could be a very fun match, and I’m eager to hear Schwartz and Bell match wits as Sonic and Amy Rose, respectively.

Like Schwartz, Kristen Bell is certainly no stranger to voice acting, with arguably the biggest feather in her cap being her role as Anna in Disney’s Frozen franchise. Bell has the ability to bring authenticity to the roles she plays and, while many of her characters are quite soft-spoken, there’s a spunkiness that radiates from them as well. That definitely tracks when it comes to the character that the Emmy nominee is voicing within the Sonic universe.

A longtime character within the Sonic the Hedgehog games, Amy Rose is a competitive yet empathetic tomboy who’s part of the titular hero’s inner circle. Amy also serves as something of a love interest for Sonic, even to the point where she can be clingy at times. During the closing moments of Sonic 3, Amy Rose arrives to assist the blue speedster when he’s ambushed by Metal Sonic robots. How the heroine’s origins will be established within the continuity of the movies remains to be seen at this time.

Information on Sonic 4 is relatively scarce, though it’s been confirmed that Jeff Fowler – who helmed the first three movies – is set to return for this latest feature. Plot details are being kept under wraps, so speculation regarding the narrative ensues for now. Tails voice actress Colleen O'Shaughnessey previously spoke to CinemaBlend about what she’d like to see in the fourth movie. All in all, she’d love to see the gang travel to new locations beyond Earth.

There’s not telling when additional casting updates on the fourth film in this video game saga will arrive. However, at present, I just remain excited knowing that Amy Rose has officially been cast. Let’s hope Kristen Bell and Ben Schwartz’s sweet dynamic translates into electrifying chemistry between their characters.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 races into theaters on March 19, 2027. In the meantime, stream the first three movies as well as the Knuckles spinoff series using a Paramount+ subscription.

DC Studio heads James Gunn and Peter Safran are in the midst of launching a whole new era for the comic book publisher's presence on the big screen, and for actors, that means that there is an abundance of opportunity. While a number of key roles in the canon have already been taken (as perfectly illustrated by the trailer for Superman that dropped this month), there is no better time than now for a performer to throw their hat in the ring to play a specific character.

For that reason, I am very happy to see that Ben Schwartz continues to pursue his dream of playing a live-action version of Plastic Man.

The Sonic The Hedgehog star has been pitching the idea of playing the stretchy DC hero for years now, and with the DC Universe now starting to take shape, he is not letting the idea go. He recently explained to ComicBook that he has an existing relationship with James Gunn, and while he has a lot of love for what's going on at Marvel, he sees himself with a bright future in the DCU. Said Schwartz,

If you're familiar with Plastic Man and the comedic sensibilities of Ben Schwartz, it's hard not to see this as anything but a slam dunk – and the Deadpool comparison feels apt. While the DC character isn't as violent as the Merc With The Mouth, there are similar irreverent attitudes that fans have long appreciated about the characters that could see them translated to the screen in similar fashions. There is a silliness that would let Plastic Man exist as a unique energy in the DC Universe – and James Gunn has certainly demonstrated an appreciation for silliness in his body of work.

There's a part of me that wonders if a potential big screen future for Plastic Man (and the idea of Ben Schwartz playing the character) will be impacted by the arrival of Matt Shakman's Fantastic Four: First Steps next year. None of the Fantastic Four movies we have seen thus far have done a particularly great job portraying the stretchy abilities of Mr. Fantastic, and if that history can be changed with Pedro Pascal's portrayal in the upcoming Marvel movie, that could motivate DC to give the power a try (albeit with a totally different attitude).

We'll wait and see if the slate of upcoming DC movies ends up expanding with a Plastic Man project, but for now, audiences can start counting down the days until the big screen launch of the DC Universe with James Gunn's Superman on July 11.

When it comes to video game characters, Sonic is probably one of the most recognizable. Now, with a successful trilogy of movies and the third Sonic the Hedgehog film earning a great review from CinemaBlend, the hedgehog voiced by Ben Schwartz is recognizable as a major movie character, too. So, when I interviewed the actor behind the speedy creature about the film's debut on the 2024 movie schedule, I asked about his favorite aspect of voicing him, and his answer was so sweet I could cry.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3, of course, featured Schwartz's blue hedgehog and his team taking on another crazy adventure together, but voicing the character isn't all the actor does. I fully realized that when I asked what his favorite thing was about voicing the hedgehog, and he responded with an answer that actually had nothing to do with making the movie:

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sprinted past all the competition at the box office during its first week of release, so it's clear that kids and their parents love these films. However, hearing about how Schwartz interacts directly with the youngsters amplifies this franchise's impact even more. Now, I'm legit about to cry because this is all so wholesome.

In a world with so many animated films out there, it's a joy to see an actor put so much passion and love into voicing a character for one. What makes all this even better is the Parks and Rec actor does the voice off the clock too for the kids because they adore Sonic so much.

On top of this sweet thing Schwartz does in character, he has really brought a lot to Sonic in general. It's clear he loves voicing the famous speedy hedgehog, and he will continue to do so as long as the movies keep going on – which, will happen since Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is already confirmed.

There's plenty to adore about the latest Sonic the Hedgehog movie, from the hilarious dancing scene with Jim Carrey to moments where certain characters might be dead or not and so much more. However, at the heart of it all, there's Sonic and his team, and behind all that, is Ben Schwartz, loving voicing the character and making kids happy everywhere.

The following contains SPOILERS for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, so beware of what you read from here!

The 2024 movie schedule has been filled to the brim with new releases, and one of the biggest thus far has been Sonic the Hedgehog 3. With a CinemaBlend's good Sonic 3 review and a box office that sprinted past Mufasa: The Lion King, it was only a matter of time before a fourth Sonic film was confirmed. Now, barely that long into its release, we already know when it's coming out – and Ben Schwartz told us what he wants the most out of the next film.

For those who haven’t heard the news, Variety confirmed that Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is already in the works and aiming for a spring 2027 release. Prior to the confirmation of the fourth film, I knew I had to ask Ben Schwartz, the lovable voice of Sonic, what he would love to see in the fourth film and if he wanted to continue the team aspect that’s been building up for the last two movies – and his answer was a resounding “yes” with plenty of enthusiasm:

The ending of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 featured the tease of a long-awaited fan-favorite – Amy Rose – who could potentially join the next Sonic film, adding one other player to the team of superpowered individuals. Schwartz continued to say that his faith in this team aspect comes from all of these other great team movies out there that build on those personality differences, whom together to become more powerful, citing from many popular Marvel movies:

Sonic the Hedgehog has undoubtedly been building up its team aspect more and more lately. While Sonic the Hedgehog 3 did introduce us to Shadow, the ending of the film initially seemed to taper off any chances we had of possibly seeing him again in the film franchise since he supposedly sacrificed himself to save Earth alongside Ivo Robotnik. However, we later see that Shadow survived, so he'll probably be back, right?

As for that post-credit sequence, I am curious to see what might happen if Amy Rose becomes a part of this team. Will she get the Knuckles-style spinoff that he got? Or will she get a chance to shine in Sonic the Hedgehog 4? And how is she going to help build out this excellent team aspect that Ben Schwartz wants to keep expanding on so much?

Schwartz’s excitement certainly makes me excited, and it makes me want to get her even faster in 2027. Can we skip the 2025 movie schedule and move over two years? That would be fun. Either way, there’s no denying Schwartz’s eagerness to continue this team into the next installment of Sonic, and I, for one, will be there for it — and hopefully, Amy Rose will be there too.

When it comes to adaptations of Sonic the Hedgehog lore, there’s two people my mind automatically goes to when imagining his voice. Those two people are naturally the OG animated actor Jaleel White, and the cinematic blue blur himself Ben Schwartz. Surprisingly, in the run up to Sonic 3’s release in the final throes of 2024 movies, the Parks and Rec veteran shared the story of how he landed the role to begin with. And while it’s still pretty cool, it’s not as adorable as I’d expected.

I think it’s because we’re conditioned to want the good old fashioned tale of a fan getting to live their dream and play the character they’ve always loved. That story about David Corenswet landing the lead in Superman while making Twisters is a good example. But in a CBS Morning’s Instagram video promoting the outlet’s interview with Schwartz and co-star James Marsden, the comedian shared the following as his Sonic the Hedgehog origin story:

If there wasn’t already a comment in the post sharing this video calling for a t-shirt that bears that very phrase, I’d have suggested it myself. What sounded like a kind of off-handed decision isn’t the sort of warm and fuzzy story you might hope for. But at the same time, I do think it speaks volumes about Ben Schwartz’s comic abilities and how they fit the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.

Those chops are part of how we’ve seen other stories praising Schwartz and his ability to think stuff up on the fly. Sonic 2’s deleted Parks and Rec joke is one such case that sells that feeling, as his quick witted improv skills helped out in a situation where there wasn’t a set movie to play off of as Sonic reacted to another family movie night.

It may not be the coziest story in the history of choosing the right lead, but much as Lilo and Stitch co-director Chris Sanders lucked his way into voicing his own blue creation, Ben Schwartz lucked his way into the role of Sonic the Hedgehog. Simply by displaying his prowess for playing this ever evolving character, it really is hard to think of anyone else in the role.

Which is funny considering that Sonic the Hedgehog trivia hinted at another famous person playing the role that James Marsden eventually nabbed. And just as it's difficult to picture another actor voicing Sonic, I can't even begin to imagine Marsden, Tika Sumpter, or any of the other stellar members of Sonic the Hedgehog 3's cast being replaced by another actor.

This holiday is all about Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and you’ll be able to see the picture in theaters, with early showings starting today. Anyone who wants to refresh their memory on the lore of the first two films, or needs to catch the Knuckles spin-off series to fill in the gaps, can do so pretty easily. It’s all waiting at the Paramount+ subscription portal of your choosing, and makes for a fantastic year-end break of relaxation and excitement.

It’s that time: Christmas time is here! And supposedly everybody knows that there’s no better time of year; at least that’s what the opening song to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation would tell us. While the 2024 movie schedule isn’t the home of that Chevy Chase classic, the latest poster for the upcoming sequel Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is an A+ parody of that very film -- and now it’s left me wanting a holiday special focused on Jim Carrey’s Robotnik family. Are you listening, Paramount?

Thanks to the folks at Paramount Pictures, we now have our hands on this beautiful comedy masterpiece you could hang on your wall…if it was being sold to the public, that is. No, this image is heading to the internet, as part of the “12 Hours of Sonic” promotion that’s highlighting the Ben Schwartz/Keanu Reeves starring three-quel. CinemaBlend got the Exclusive on this one. Ho-ho-holy moly, are we lucky!

If I wasn’t already sold on this movie by personal fandom, as well as that first Sonic 3 trailer, this would probably be the icing on the cake for me. And if I'm being honest, this is in light of the fact that I'm not exactly a fan of Christmas Vacation.

Which doesn't really color my view on this promo art any differently, as I can still get a laugh out of the well tuned homage to the poster from that 1988 comedy. Shown below, you can see how the look, feel, and even the tagline of that beloved Chevy Chase staple were all ripe for a Robotnik flavored revamp:

However, I will admit to being both a fan of the best Jim Carrey movies, as well as the man’s career in general. And while the folks at Paramount might think I'm asking for a lot here, I'm going to pitch my holiday special anyway. Perhaps Sonic franchise director Jeff Fowler, and writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller, will back what I'm about to say as a viable option.

Why We Need A Robotnik Holiday Special In The Sonic Universe

We’ve already got a taste of what a Robotnik family holiday would look like, thanks to a more recent look at Sonic the Hedgehog 3 showing grandpa Gerald surprising his grandson Ivo as Santa. But if you look at the pedigree of several of the parties involved in these movies, they’re all holiday entertainment veterans.

Obviously Jim Carrey was The Grinch in Ron Howard’s live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas. As someone who still defends that film, and vehemently disagrees the case that Illumination’s The Grinch is somehow better, that’s the first win notched in the column.

The second win comes from the fact that Sonic movie writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller are the credited team behind 2022’s action-comedy Violent Night. But a third unexpected win happened to arrive while I was putting together my case for A Very Robotnik Christmas to exist. And you can watch it for yourself, as Paramount's gift to us all:

So if I’m presented with the option to watch a Sonic the Hedgehog holiday special, starring one of my favorite Grinches and written by the people who cemented David Harbour as one of the best modern Santas, then you can bet that I’m going to push for it! Especially because as we saw with this year’s Knuckles spin-off series, this universe is one that’s easily expandable.

And when there's already a mini-Christmas special in existence, it's harder to deny this project's potential. Not to mention, it would kind of make up for A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All somehow not being streamable on Paramount+. Putting that point aside, I welcome the fact that some will say that the idea of A Robotnik Family Christmas, complete with Jim Carrey playing the entire family, is absurd.

That’s ok, as we’re supposed to come together despite our differences at this time of year. However you can’t disagree with the fact that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be in theaters on December 20th. Nor can you speak against how both previous Sonic movies are available to watch through a Paramount+ subscription. I do love a good debate, but those are all stone cold facts.

If you’ve seen Parks and Recreation, you’ve been acquainted with one of the most annoying characters in sitcom history, Jean-Ralphio. While not quite “the w-o-o-rst” that his sister Mona-Lisa Saperstein is, he comes pretty close, but actually kind of the best when it comes to laugh out loud moments. Sure, Ben Schwartz has known that he’s been a meme for a long time, but he’s just spoken about the time he found out one bit from the show became popular on TikTok, and he’s so un-Jean Ralphio about it.

If you spend time on TikTok or Reels, you’ve probably heard the little tune “don’t be suspicious, don’t be suspicious” next to a cute cat video or some comedic bit from a user or friend. One of Parks and Recreation’s best guest stars, Ben Schwartz, found out the bit had found a new life on social media when a friend of his was telling him how audio sampling works on TikTok. In his words:

Wild, isn’t it? During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ben Schwartz said he had no idea he’d gone “ultra viral” on the platform, and it sounds like it happened in such a casual way. I love the response because Schwartz was interested in the concept of audio sampling on TikTok because of how collaborative it was, but little did he know that an improvised bit he did with Jenny Slate back in 2015 is a source of inspiration for tons and tons of internet videos. If you’ve yet to experience one of these videos, take a look:

The sound is from an extended version of Parks and Recreation's series finale, “One Last Ride,” where Schwartz’s Jean-Ralphio and Jenny Slate’s Mona-Lisa plot to fake his death and use the insurance money to open a casino in Tajikistan. While the funeral is taking place, they break out into the song that makes their presence pretty obvious. It’s a hilarious moment in the show, and it’s fun to see how people use it to make other people laugh. Here’s another one:

While Ben Schwartz has spoken before about not wanting to play another Jean-Ralphio type, it’s a role he’ll probably never be able to get away from. As he continued in the interview:

The quotability of that show is incredible. You can stream one of the all-time great sitcoms, Parks and Recreation now with a Peacock subscription and look out for Ben Schwartz’s voice in Sonic The Hedgehog 3. It’s among 2024 movies to come, as it’s set to hit theaters on December 20.

The list of video game movie franchises and the actors behind the beloved leads or integral cast of characters has grown over the past decade. The best, in my opinion, is Ben Schwartz and Sonic, with the threequel of Sonic just around the corner. I don’t know if it’s Schwartz’s charm, my first video game memories including Sonic or a combination of the two. Regardless, the Parks and Rec alum has driven my love for the duo and excitement for the newest movie with his latest Instagram post.

With the classic SEGA franchise having no plans of slowing down Sonic’s sagas in Hollywood fans are gearing up for the rapidly approaching threequel. It’s on our 2024 Movie Release Schedule and due to hit theaters on December 20th. While the official press tour hasn’t begun just yet, Schwartz has been hyping up the Hedgehog, and exciting the fans, with this killer sweater on his social media. He kept it plain, simple and shared that the countdown is on to premiere day.

You can’t deny that sweater is anything but stellar, and that a lot of us are already trying to find it online (myself included, of course). The After Party actor pulls it off so well too, letting Sonic be the star he is. Schwartz’s comment section is full of compliments regarding the incredible sweater, excited fans, as well as comments about the newest Sonic game: Sonic X Shadow Generations. And I personally need that knit.

The coming Sonic movie has confirmed it will pull a lot of inspiration from one of the series' most beloved fan favorites. The threequel involves our classic trio, Sonic (Schwartz), Knuckles (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), and Tails (Idris Elba) facing off against a new foe, Shadow (Keanu Reeves), who has unmatched powers like they’ve never seen before. The new enemy leads the gang to team up with an unlikely partner to keep the balance.

This new installment is sure to bring a lot of new excitement and stars, including Reeves. There has even been buzz about Sarah Paulson playing a secret role. Regardless of who actually joins, it’ll be an adventure. Both 1 and 2 have been received well overall, with varying opinions from gamers and moviegoers alike, and three will be no different.

As for Schwartz and his sweet sweater, I hope there are many more nods to Sonic and the crew as we continue to count down the days. And maybe a merch drop with this particular piece in the bunch? To catch up on the fun, or review before December 20th, you can stream Sonic the Hedgehog with a Netflix subscription or a Paramount+ subscription. Stream its sequel with a Hulu subscription or a Paramount+ subscription.

The Parks and Rec cast by itself is legendary. Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Rob Lowe, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Rashida Jones, Adam Scott and more served as regulars on the series for years, and to this day their characters are beloved. However, what made this show even more special was its constant stream of guest stars played by living legends. Everyone from Bill Murray to Michelle Obama to Ben Schwartz appeared on the NBC classic, and today, we’re here to talk about them. 

Paul Rudd

Now, I know we love Paul Rudd for his movies, but we also need to appreciate his brilliant work as Bobby Newport on Parks and Rec. During Season 4, the actor joined the cast to play the man running against Leslie Knope for a city council position. Overall, Bobby is childish, not smart and spoiled, and Rudd plays this silly idiot brilliantly. 

Bill Murray

Obviously, Bill Murray’s funniest roles include iconic characters like Phil Connors in Groundhog Day and Dr. Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters. However, his guest spot on Parks and Rec was unexpected and incredibly memorable. I write this because, for one episode in Season 7, the Saturday Night Live legend played Walter Gunderson, the dead mayor of Pawnee. 

Kathryn Hahn

Playing the cutthroat campaign manager Jen Barkley, Kathryn Hahn made a glorious (and a smidge evil) impact on Parks and Rec. She played a cutthroat manager who worked for Bobby Newport at first, and across ten episodes she popped in from time to time to both help and harm Leslie’s political career. 

Ben Schwartz 

Arguably, Jean-Ralphio Saperstein is one of the best recurring guest stars in Parks and Rec history. The rich boy who is friends with Tom is ridiculous, scammy and he’s constantly trying to flirt with everyone and sing whenever he can. While he’s 100% the worst, he’s also totally not “the WORRRRRRSSSSSTTTT,” if you know what I mean.  

Jenny Slate

In a stroke of perfect casting, Jenny Slate popped into Parks and Rec to play Jean-Ralphio’s sister Mona Lisa Saperstein. The siblings truly are the most chaotic duo, however, they’re also the two of the funniest extra side characters the sitcom has to offer. Just don’t fall for it when they ask for “money please!”

Henry Winkler

After getting to know Jean-Ralphio and Mona Lisa, we meet their father, Lu Saperstein in Season 6. Played brilliantly by Henry Winkler, the patriarch of the Saperstein family is a successful doctor who is willing to go to any financial length to help his kids. 

Sam Elliott

In the later seasons of the show, we met the Eagleton Parks Department. Ironically, each member of that crew matched up with a member of the Parks and Rec cast, and when it came to picking someone to play Nick Offerman’s Ron Swanson’s counterpart, they cast Sam Elliott as Ron Dunn. While they both have legendary mustaches and an appreciation for the outdoors, that’s where the similarities stop, and seeing Ron and Anti-Ron go head-to-head was hilarious. 

Joe Biden

Leslie loves her politicians and had a massive crush on then-Vice President Joe Biden. As an engagement gift, Ben decided to give her the perfect present and prove that he’s the ideal man, by coordinating a meet and greet between Leslie and Joe Biden.

Patton Oswalt

When Leslie tries to change Pawnee’s charter to get rid of some silly laws – like throwing a Ted into a lake – Garth Blundin makes his disapproval clear. Patton Oswalt plays the historian, and he challenges Amy Poehler’s character to a filibuster and a day of living like a colonial person. Ultimately, he and Leslie find common ground, and he joins forces with her to help preserve the laws…he also volunteers to get thrown in the lake.

Michelle Obama

As Leslie tries to figure out if she should take a job at the National Parks Department and leave Pawnee, Michelle Obama comes in to tell her about why she should take it. Let’s just say if I met the First Lady, I think I’d be just as star-struck as Leslie Knope. How could you not stumble over your words if you casually bumped into the First Lady of the United States?

Bo Burnham

Some of the funniest stand-up on Netflix comes from Bo Burnham, and in his special Make Happy, he sings a “Country Song” that pokes fun at the cliches in the genre and how some artists are masters at pandering to their audiences. On Parks and Rec, he worked with that idea as well by playing country singer Chipp McCapp who Leslie and Andy tried to hire for a performance at the Unity Concert. His songs like “Beautiful Like My Mom (Support the Troops)” were truly hilarious, and they complimented the stand-up comedian's sense of humor very well. 

John McCain

Parks and Rec knows how to do a political cameo, and one of the best ones came when Leslie didn’t even realize she’d just met John McCain in a coat closet. She was so distraught over interacting with #4 and #26 on Leslie’s list of amazing women, that she didn’t even notice she was speaking with the senator. 

Megan Mullally

You know chaos mode has been activated when Ron’s second ex-wife Tammy II enters the chat. She’s constantly trying to simultaneously take Ron down and get back together with her, and his efforts to avoid it are truly hilarious. However, what really makes this dynamic duo so hysterical and one of the best recurring inside jokes on Parks and Rec is the fact that Tammy II is played by Nick Offerman’s real-life wife Megan Mullally. 

Will Forte

Amy Poehler and Will Forte were both in some of SNL’s best casts, and it was such a treat to see them reunite on Parks and Rec. In his episode, Forte played Kelly, a man who really wants to get the Twilight books put in Pawnee’s town time capsule. When Leslie refuses and then agrees, it starts an outcry over what can and can’t go in the capsule via a chaotic town meeting. 

Jon Hamm

According to Leslie, Jon Hamm’s Ed is the “most incompetent person I’ve ever worked with.” He worked for our leading lady when she was at the National Parks Department, and he was swiftly fired by her not long after we met him. 

John Cena

In an epic episode of Andy’s show, the Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show, Burt Macklin, FBI, arrested John Cena – who was wearing so much of his own WWE merch – and took him to the dunk tank. Talk about a dream come true for Andy and viewers.

Keegan-Michael Key

There’s no question that all our hearts grew a few sizes when Donna married Keegan-Michael Key’s Joe. The comedian played the “Treat yo’ self’ queen’s boyfriend-turned-husband in Seasons 6 and 7, and it’s safe to say that we all adored this music teacher. 

Bradley Whitford

Considering Parks and Rec is a show about government and Rob Lowe is one of its stars, it made perfect sense for a West Wing cast member to pop into the sitcom. It was done perfectly too, because the team brought in Josh himself, as Bradley Whitford played Councilman Pillner, the man Leslie replaces on City Council and a model boat enthusiast. 

J.K. Simmons

Remember Ice Town? Well, Ben’s hometown of Partridge and J.K. Simmons’ Mayor Stice sure do. And that became clear as day when an episode of Parks went back to Adam Scott’s character’s hometown so he could get a key to the city, which ended up just being melted water in a box…because Ice Town. 

Patricia Clarkson

While Megan Mullally’s Tammy II is truly unhinged and chaotic, Tammy I is cold, calculated, and manipulative. She’s played by Patricia Clarkson, and she really adds to the hilarious chaos that is Ron Swanson’s love life. 

Andy Samberg

Back when Andy Samberg was still on Saturday Night Live and before he led his own sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, he guest starred on Parks and Rec as the incredibly loud Park Ranger Carl. During Season 2, Leslie worked with Carl on a few issues of Parks security, and let's just say that she “might not be so confident, when [she has to] walk a mile in [Carl’s]  size sevens.” 

Rachel Dratch

In the final season of Parks and Recreation, Amy Poehler’s Saturday Night Live co-star Rachel Dratch appeared as Roz Pinwheel, the nanny of Leslie and Ben’s triplets. While a small role, it was such a nice (and funny) nod to the two comedians' time together on the legendary sketch comedy show.

Nick Kroll

If you were looking to get humiliated on the radio look no further than "The Douche." This hilarious and terrible radio host was played by the mastermind behind one of the best animated shows, Big Mouth, Nick Kroll, and anytime he showed up to host a radio spot on the series, you knew something wild was about to go down.

Chelsea Peretti

While Leslie ran for City Council, April filled in for her one time, and during one of her seminars Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Chelsea Peretti showed up as one of the attendees, Zelda. Fun fact: before Peretti was part of the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast, she actually wrote two episodes of Parks and Rec, which helps explain her lil cameo in the series. 

Kristen Bell

Kristen Bell was quite literally the perfect person to play Leslie Knope’s Eagleton councilwoman counterpart, Ingrid de Forest. It turns out, Bell was born to thrive on a comedy like this, because after Parks and Rec, she went on to lead the cast of The Good Place, which was Michael Schur’s next show after Parks.  

Dax Shepard

When Tom decides to become Andy’s manager as he works on Johnny Karate, they have a run-in with Hank Muntak, a TV executive in Pawnee who is played by Dax Shepard. Before this guest spot, the actor had spent a lot of time on NBC as one of the stars of Parenthood, these days you can find him hosting his podcast Armchair Expert. 

Will Arnett

Before Leslie meets and falls in love with Ben, she goes on some wildly terrible dates, including one with MRI technician Chris. At the time, Amy Poehler and Will Arnett were actually married (they’re divorced now), making this blind date even funnier because they were a real-life couple too. 

Sean Hayes

Bobby Wood was Indianapolis’ best talk show host, and he was played by Sean Hayes. As television appearances tend to go for Leslie and co. her interview with him didn’t exactly go well, and both comedic actors were so funny in the moment. 

Fred Armisen

You can always count on Fred Armisen to play the wildest goofy guys, and he did exactly that on Parks and Recreation. In the episode “Sister City,” the SNL vet appeared as Raul Alejandro Bastilla Pedro de Veloso de Maldonado, the Venezuelan officer who came to represent his city on a trip to Pawnee. 

Tatiana Maslany

Tom Haverford’s love life was always a funny point of interest on Parks and Rec, especially because it was only brought up occasionally. For instance, in Season 6, he had a short-lived relationship with Tatiana Maslany’s Nadia Stasky, a doctor who eventually left Pawnee and moved to Rwanda.  

Parker Posey

Indie darling Parker Posey came on to Parks and Rec to play Lindsay Carlisle Shay. The character was Leslie’s counterpart from Eagleton, meaning she was the Deputy Parks Director in Pawnee’s fancy rival town. The twist here was that Lindsay was actually Leslie’s friend and went behind her back a long time ago to take the job in Eagleton. 

Jason Schwartzman

Jason Schwartzman’s role in Parks and Rec presented an interesting issue for Pawnee when he decided to turn his video rental store into an adult store. Watching Leslie flounder as she figured out how to help the character played by the Asteroid City star was so funny, and the character of Dennis was perfect for Schwartzman.  

Honestly, the guest stars from Parks and Rec are next level. From comedy geniuses to beloved dramatic actors, so many notable names took a quick trip to Pawnee, Indiana and I love that for them, this wonderful show and us. 

Out of all the upcoming video game tv shows and movies, it's fair to say Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is one of the most anticipated. Audiences are ready to see the Blue Blur in action once again, especially after the way the second movie ended. It's looking like the third installment will finally introduce Shadow The Hedgehog and open up the world of Sonic drastically.

The following are all the actors and actresses we know that are involved with Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Right now, there is still some mystery as to who some of these actors are playing, so be sure to check back in for updates should we learn more about some of these actors' roles before the premiere date in December.

Ben Schwartz

At three movies in, there's only one man who can voice the "Blue Blur," and his name is Ben Schwartz. We know that Schwartz is back in Sonic 3 to play the title character, but could he be voicing someone else as well? Schwartz told CinemaBlend he's ready for his "villainous era" when we speculated he could also voice Shadow The Hedgehog. We'll have to wait and see if that. actually happens, but I'd be down to see him pull double duty.

James Marsden

James Marsden has been the perfect sidekick to his CGI co-star, and that's thanks in part to the various Sonics used on set to make it look accurate. Marsden's Tom Wachowski is the vehicle that keeps this franchise quickly moving along, and it wouldn't feel the same without seeing him in the mix.

Tika Sumpter

Tika Sumpter is back in Sonic 3, though for fans, it may not seem like she's been away that long. She'll be one of the main cast set to return as part of the Knuckles cast, but what would this movie be without Maddie Wachowski around to help out their furry friends?

Jim Carrey

I'm not sure if playing Dr. Eggman was ever a long-term goal for Jim Carrey, but it certainly feels that way, given how well he understands and plays the role. The main villain of the Sonic franchise disappeared at the end of the second movie, but with G.U.N. unable to find a body, it was assumed that Robotnik had slipped away.

Colleen O'Shaughnessey

Colleen O'Shaughnessey is back and voicing the role of Sonic's best sidekick, Tails. I don't think there's any denying that Tails is Sonic's best friend in the franchise, but with Knuckles now allied with the heroes, there's going to be some proving that he's not the weak link in the chain in this adventure.

Idris Elba

After appearing as the antagonist in the second movie and starring in his own self-titled series, Idris Elba's Knuckles is back and ready to use his super strength to fight for the good guys and, hopefully, stop whatever the latest threat from Dr. Eggman may be. We'll get to see how this group works together in the series, assuming readers have a Paramount+ subscription.

Lee Majdoub

Dr. Robotnik is skilled, but it's Agent Stone, played by Lee Majdoub, who helps him pull off half of his wild schemes. Readers might remember that Stone narrowly escaped capture by posing as an operative for G.U.N. No doubt he'll play a key part in plotting Eggman's return and may even be in a position of power hiding in the shadows of Green Hills. Either that, or he's putting plans in place for the next big scheme for the villain.

Tom Butler

Tom Butler's Commander Walters was disappointed he couldn't find Robotnik at the end of Sonic The Hedgehog 2, and concerned about what he learned next. It was uncovered that a secret location to a lab was exposed, and it was revealed Project Shadow was worked on there. It's a problem we expect to see resolved in the upcoming movie, and Walters will undoubtedly have more to share on the project.

Krysten Ritter

Krysten Ritter will make her debut in Sonic The Hedgehog 3, according to IGN, but we're still in the dark on how she'll be involved. With that said, Ritter is a star of repute, having been in Breaking Bad and Jessica Jones before joining the cast, so it's possible she'll be voicing one of the notable Sonic characters who hasn't been introduced. On the other hand, she could be playing a new character in live-action as well.

James Wolk

James Wolk is another actor with a big question mark next to the character he'll be playing, as we don't know anything beyond the fact he was cast to be in the movie. Wolk is an actor who has had roles on prominent shows like The Crazy Ones and Mad Men, and he's a great addition to the Sonic 3 cast.

Sofia Pernas

Actress Sofia Pernas, who has starred in The Young and the Restless and Justin Hartley's hit CBS series Tracker, will also be a part of the Sonic 3 cast. Unfortunately, we're in the dark once again about what her character will do or if they're appearing in live-action or via CGI, but it's always exciting to see a fresh face join an established franchise!

Cristo Fernández

While Ted Lasso fans brainstorm ways the series can return, star Cristo Fernández is branching out into the Sonic franchise. We have no idea what character he'll play in the upcoming movie, but if his character has the same peppy energy as Dani Rojas, I'm beyond excited to see who he'll play.

Jorma Taccone

Jorma Taccone, one of the masterminds behind The Lonely Island group, will also be in Sonic 3 in an unknown role. Considering he's a force behind a scene considered so wtf it had to be cut from Hot Rod, I'm assuming he's coming into the movie to play a comedic role. We'll have to wait for confirmation to find out for certain, though he could surprise us with something a little more serious for this latest romp in cinema.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is currently slated to be released on December 20th, 2024. Hopefully, we'll learn more details about what roles all the actors are playing before its arrival, or at the very least, who will be voicing the villainous Shadow The Hedgehog.

Sonic The Hedgehog fans are looking forward to the Knuckles miniseries on Paramount+, and looking at the cast, it isn't hard to see what. Idris Elba is a big name to attach to any series, but he's not the only heavy-hitter joining this adventure about Sonic's new red ally. So, who else is in tow for this spinoff show? 

Let's run down the list of all those involved in Knuckles, which follows the echidna warrior as he looks to adjust to a world unlike one he has ever known to that point. Of course, it doesn't take long until his new life on Earth is upended and he's on his back heels trying to protect himself and new friends from another threat. Let's dive in and see who all is in this series:

Idris Elba

As one might expect, Idris Elba will reprise his role of the iconic character Knuckles after debuting as him in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The miniseries will pick up after Knuckles moves to Earth, and in addition to all trouble coming his way, will explore his life feeling out of sorts and adjusting to a different life. 

Adam Pally

Actor Adam Pally, an MCU actor who jumped into Sonic the Hedgehog from the very start, will co-star alongside Knuckles, reprising his role as Wade Whipple. Wade will be learning from Knuckles about being an echidna warrior, and I can only assume that Wade will also be passing along some knowledge about life on Earth to his new friend. 

Cary Elwes

You may know him from The Princess Bride or two of the other popular movies Cary Elwes says people consistently clock him for being in. Whatever the case may be, Elwes is making his debut in the Sonic universe by playing "Pistol" Pete Whipple. Whipple is a 27-time championship bowler and Wade's relative. 

Edi Patterson

The Righteous Gemstones' Edi Patterson will be introduced in Knuckles as Wanda Whipple, Wade's sister. Not a ton is revealed about her character at this time, but given her comedic chops, I can assume she'll be in the mix and around for the adventure at various points during the miniseries. 

Scott Mescudi

Scott Mescudi, likely known to more than a few by his rap name Kid Cudi, will come into the world of Knuckles as Agent Mason. Mason is an enforcer for "The Buyer," and based on what we've seen in the trailer, that means doing everything within his power to try and capture Knuckles for the villain. 

Stockard Channing

Stockard Channing has done everything from playing Betty in Grease to inadvertently making Will Smith fall in love, and now she's in Knuckles. Channing will play the role of matriarch in this adventure, meaning she'll be the mother of Wade Whipple, Wendy. There are not many details about the character beyond that, but it is great to see a well-seasoned veteran actress in the series. 

Julian Barratt

Julian Barratt, an English actor known for the comedy series The Mighty Boosh, as among other things, joins the cast of Knuckles as Jack Sinclair. All we really have on this character is a name so far, and given that he doesn't appear in the Sonic the Hedgehog games, there's no telling what he'll be up to until we get more information on the character. 

Ellie Taylor

Actress Ellie Taylor will join Knuckles as Agent Willoughby, another one of the agents working for "The Buyer." Viewers might recognize Taylor from her work in Ted Lasso, where she played Rebecca's best friend "Sassy." She'll also work to try to capture Knuckles in this series, all at The Buyer's request. 

Rory McCann

Rory McCann, who played the badass Hound in Game of Thrones, will come into Knuckles as the main villain known as "The Buyer." This villain is a mysterious former lackey of Dr. Robotnik who is hellbent on obtaining Knuckles' power for himself. I'm making an assumption here, but it's probably for the best that he doesn't get that power. 

Tika Sumpter

Tika Sumpter will make her return to the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise as Maddie Wachowski, the wife of James Marsden's Tom Wachowski. She's still doing her thing as the veterinarian of Green Hills, as well as looking after Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. It'll be great to see her back, as the connective tissue since Marsden's character is seemingly out of the story for this one. 

Ben Schwartz

The blue hedgehog is back for Knuckles, and so is the actor who voices him. Ben Schwartz will make an appearance as Sonic The Hedgehog in the series. Though he is the star of the franchise, it appears Sonic isn't too good to pop up in a series made for those with a Paramount+ subscription. 

Colleen O'Shaughnessey

If Sonic is back, then you have to know that Colleen O'Shaughnessey's Tails is going to get in on the action as well. The two-tailed sidekick will also play a part in Knuckles, though it's unclear how much either will be in the mix during this miniseries. 

Christopher Lloyd

Actor Christopher Lloyd, known for Back To The Future and many other major movies, will play an elder echidna named Pachacamac. This character appearing will apparently be quite a surprise for Knuckles, as it's believed that he perished alongside Longclaw, the original adopted mother of Sonic.  

Paul Scheer

Paul Scheer, an actor with some serious comedic chops that have served him well in everything from The League to Star Trek: Lower Decks, will appear in Knuckles. Unfortunately, we're still in the dark about what role he'll be playing at this time, though it's possible he'll lend his voice to an animated character. 

Rob Huebel

Rob Huebel, whom readers may know from shows like Children's Hospital and Human Giant, will also join Knuckles in an undisclosed role. While we know nothing about his role, I would once again speculate that he's playing an animated character, as it would be easier to keep the voice work under wraps than anything shot on a set. We will see, though!

Knuckles premieres on Paramount+ beginning Friday, April 26th. This looks like another upcoming live-action video game adaptation that gamers won't want to miss, especially if they grew up playing the Sega Genesis. 

You know it’s coming. It’s just a matter of time, but I have full faith that there will eventually be a live-action Wreck-It Ralph movie.  

Has there been any confirmation of this, or even any rumblings? No. But, with Disney slowly but surely getting through most of their popular animated movies from the Disney Renaissance, like the recent The Little Mermaid, which we reviewed favorably, I just have a pretty good feeling that Ralph will one day get the live-action treatment, too. 

I mean, hell, Disney is ALREADY setting up a live-action Moana movie, and the original Moana came out after Ralph. So, I’ve decided to get started dream casting the live-action Wreck-It Ralph movie. Sure, we’ll likely get that live-action Rapunzel movie before this, but I still believe that the latter is on its way, and I want to cast it. I’m gonna wreck it!      

Wreck-It Ralph - Chris Pratt   

I know. You're likely saying, "You're joking, right?" Yes, I've seen the memes. One of the funnier ones was of Chris Pratt playing Rosa Parks. A lot of those stemmed from the fact that when it was announced that he was going to be voicing Mario, it seemed like a joke. Well, after The Super Mario Bros. Movie raked in over a billion dollars (and counting), I think it's safe to say that he could play whomever the hell he wants, and it would probably still be pretty good.      

That said, I think Pratt would be better than "pretty good" as the titular character. I actually think he'd be pretty great. Voiced by John C. Reilly, it's actually kind of hard for me to envision any other voice coming out of Ralph's mouth, but The Super Mario Bros. Movie (which I loved) proved to me that he could make any voice his own.  

Plus, I think he has the talent to pull off all of the physical stuff required of the character as well. Of course he would have to be heavily CGI'd, but hey, it worked for Will Smith as the Genie in Aladdin, didn't it? So, it could work for Pratt as Wreck-It Ralph, too! 

Vanellope Von Schweetz - Vivien Lyra Blair 

You know, when I originally pictured casting Vanellope Von Schweetz, I envisioned McKenna Grace. I was mainly thinking of her quirky performance in Ghostbusters: Aftermath, and how that could transfer over to a live-action role for Vanellope. 

But, thankfully, my editors thought that there could be a possibly better choice for Princess Vanellope, and I'm glad they intervened since I now think I have the PERFECT choice, and that’s Vivien Lyra Blair. 

You probably know her as the young Leia Organa in the Disney+ series, Obi-Wan Kenobi, but I know her from We Can Be Heroes, which I once called "the perfect follow-up to Sharkboy and Lava Girl." Blair played the progeny of Sharkboy and Lava Girl, Guppy.   

In the movie, she exhibited a really playful performance. While Vanellope had a constantly sarcastic tone because she was voiced by Sarah Silverman, I think that a live-action version could be softened a little in the joke department, while still maintaining that fun edge, which I think Blair can really deliver in spades.  

King Candy - Danny DeVito  

Okay, now this one would be a HUGE departure from the movie, since King Candy was played by Alan Tudyk, who gave the character a pretty silly voice, but I think it could still work if Danny DeVito took on the role. Spoiler alert for a pretty old movie, but Candy turned out to be the antagonist. That said, this wasn't really somebody who would typically be taken seriously throughout the rest of the film.

That’s why I think DeVito would be perfect for the role. Firstly, I pretty much want him to be in every movie, and secondly, I think he is a master at playing silly characters who also might have a dark side. Keep in mind, this is the same actor who’s on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but also portrayed The Penguin in Batman Returns. So, that’s why I think DeVito would be ideal for the sometimes silly, but also terrifying, King Candy. Just sit with it for a little bit. It’ll come to you.  

Fix-It Felix Jr. - Ben Schwartz  

Yes, I know. Fix-It Felix Jr. IS Jack McBrayer, right down to the funny demeanor and everything. (He even looks like the actor!) But, I wouldn’t just want to cast him as a live-action Fix-It Felix Jr. Nope. In fact, I think Ben Schwartz, the voice of the live-action Sonic himself (who may just be on the verge of starting “the villainous stage” of his career) would be the perfect Felix.    

I think a lot of this really boils down to just how innocent and almost childlike he makes Sonic sound, as I see a lot of that in Felix, too. Here's a guy who wants to do the right thing, and, by all accounts is doing the right thing, but he’s also not worldly enough to realize that things aren’t just in black and white, as there is nuance to pretty much every situation. I think that side of Sonic could really add even more layers to the character, and I feel Schwartz could knock that role right out of the park.  

Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun - Ronda Rousey 

While I know I just said that Felix Jr. IS Jack McBrayer, only to spend two whole paragraphs discussing why somebody else should play his character, I honestly can’t think of any other voice-actor in Wreck-It Ralph who is closest to the look and demeanor of their character than Sgt. Calhoun’s voice actress, Jane Lynch. In fact, I was seriously considering just putting her in the role for the live-action film, but then I thought, no. That would be a cop out, and I've already committed to this list. 

So, if not Lynch, then I think Ronda Rousey could be a good substitute. She doesn’t need to prove how tough she is, as the former UFC fighter and current WWE wrestler is already known as a certified badass. But, she hasn’t acted in many movies, making appearances in The Expendables 3, and in Furious 7. That said, in both roles she commanded the screen, and I honestly think that if anybody could play the lead character in Hero’s Duty, it’s Rousey. 

And, that’s it. Who would you cast in a live-action Wreck-It Ralph? For more news on all things Disney, make sure to swing around here often! 

For the most part, audiences know Ben Schwartz as a comedic relief or a heroic smart ass. Considering his roles in series like Parks and Recreation and Space Force, as well as his status as the lead of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, the comedian’s resume has scored him a lot of laughs. Schwartz continues to do so in the 2023 new movie release Renfield although, this time out, he exudes more of a villainous presence when he’s not freaking out over Nicolas Cage’s Dracula. It’s an experience that, through some creative casting in Sonic 3, could see Schwartz starting "the villainous stage" of his career. 

Thanks to the Universal press day for Renfield, I had the privilege of sitting down with Mr. Schwartz to discuss his role as the vibrantly evil Teddy Lobo. The son of crime lord Bella (Shoreh Aghdashloo), Teddy gets up to the usual mischief you’d expect from someone so tied to the criminal underworld. And by mischief, I mean wielding twin pistols and a colorful wardrobe a la Castor Troy from Face/Off while engaging in various activities involving the distribution of cocaine.

It’s a performance that, frankly, got both of us thinking that if Sonic 3 wants to cash in on this mayhem, the powers that be may have found its Shadow the Hedgehog. Don’t take my word for it,, though, as Ben Schwartz shared these devious thoughts with CinemaBlend:

Potentially casting him as the anti-heroic Shadow the Hedgehog isn’t due to a lack of good candidates. With Sonic The Hedgehog 2’s cast having offered some fantastic A-list picks upon the picture’s release in 2022, a lot of different names are in the mix.

And yet, there’s a lot of potential for the man behind the Blue Blur himself to get really nasty in the role the iconic character revealed as a sequel tease during Sonic 2’s ending. Of course, on that note, fans are wondering if there are any updates regarding what’s happening with Paramount’s Sega-produced threequel.

Unfortunately, even with the next film being planned for a Christmas 2024 release, there’s not much to report, at least on Ben Schwartz’s end. But as you’ll see below, he’s anxious to get the ball rolling on the beloved video game characters next big-s outing:

There is a silver lining though, and it comes from a more recent status update. Ahead of Sonic 3, the Knuckles spin-off series -- which was announced last year -- has just gone into production. So there’s news to be reported, it’s just not directly connected to Ben Schwartz just yet; though one could assume we’ll see his character appear at some point in that streaming narrative. At least, that's what a true hero would do when building their own franchise.

Should Sonic the Hedgehog 3 choose to go with another voice of villainy in Shadow the Hedgehog’s casting, there’s always the chance that Ben Schwartz could maybe return to the role of Teddy Lobo. If Renfield’s ending is compelling enough to build strong word of mouth for the horror/comedy, then there could be some sequel potential in the air. 

Whatever the case, he's ready to become a big screen force for evil and, after watching him begin to experiment with that sort of role, it feels like that villain era he wants to launch could become a reality. While we wait for these next moves to become clearer, you can catch all things Sonic the Hedgehog by streaming them with a Paramount+ subscription.

That’s where you’ll be able to find those first two films, and the eventual Knuckles series spin-off at some point in the near future. But if you want to see Ben Schwartz acting like a menace to society and hurling cocaine bricks at Awkwafina, then you’re going to have to head to the movies and see Renfield now.

Nicolas Cage has numerous tonal periods during his career. There’s the Method Actor Mic Cage. There’s the Oscar-worthy Nic Cage. We’re currently going through the Exaggerated-Comedic stage of Cage, with movies like Renfield and last year’s The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. These eras contain some of the best Nicolas Cage movies ever made. But the one that many of you reading this article grew up on was likely Action Cage, where the leading man appeared in movies like Face/Off, Gone in 60 Seconds, The Rock, and Con-Air (which you can watch tonight with a Hulu subscription). It was a seminal time for movies, for Cage, and for people like Cage’s Renfield co-star, Ben Schwartz.     

Our own Mike Reyes, who raved about Nicolas Cage’s performance in our Renfield review, compared Ben Schwartz’s character of Teddy plays more like Castor Troy, Cage’s homicidal criminal from Face/Off. But during an appearance on the ReelBlend podcast, Schwartz told a different story of another Cage classic, Con-Air, and the time he got to screen the movie with one of the film’s antagonists, John Malkovich. How incredibly cool is that? 

The way that Ben Schwartz remembers it, he was filming the Netflix comedy Space Force in Vancouver, and the hotel in which the cast was staying had a movie theater. Schwartz would occasionally rent the space out to show movies, and one night when he learned that Space Force co-star John Malkovich was attending, he decided to program Con-Air. As Schwartz recalled:

It still amazes me when actors star in major blockbusters that go on to become cult classics, or even some of the greatest action movies we’ve ever seen, but they watch them one time at the premiere and then claim they’ve never watched them again. If Malkovich is to be believed, then that special Con-Air screening set up by Ben Schwartz is the first time that he has seen the beloved action-comedy in decades, and I know that the movie holds up beautifully, so I hope he appreciated his performance as Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom, one of the many convicts aboard a prison transport that gets taken over by the bad guys. It’s a vintage Malkovich performance, one that ranked pretty high on our list of badass Con-Air characters. Watching Con-Air with him in attendance had to be a hoot. 

Watch our full interview with Ben Schwartz and director Chris McKay as part of this week's ReelBlend:

There are a few things about Con-Air that, even to this day, don’t make a lick of sense. But we still love it. I wonder if Renfield will have that type of impact. Buzz on the film is pretty strong at the moment, but we will see how many people grab tickets to the movie and check it out during its theatrical run. 

There are few movie monsters more classic than Count Dracula, and vampires in general have seen so many different big-screen interpretations over the years. While Chris McKay’s upcoming horror comedy Renfield may focus on the famous vampire’s servant (played by Nicholas Hoult), it’s not surprising that Nicolas Cage’s Dracula was what had social media on fire after the release of Renfield’s trailer. Reviews are in for the film ahead of its April 14 release, and the critics seem to agree the audience is in for a bloody good time.

Along with The Weather Man co-stars Nicholas Cage and Nicholas Hoult reuniting, Renfield boasts an impressive cast, including Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Brandon Scott Jones and Adrian Martinez. The movie takes place in modern-day New Orleans, where Dracula’s familiar has decided to stand up to his toxic employer in hopes of escaping his life of servitude. Let’s see what the critics are saying, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of Renfield. Mike Reyes rates the movie 3.5 stars out of 5, describing Hoult as “charmingly heroic,” while Cage is “gleefully evil.” Reyes continues: 

Linda Codega of Gizmodo says Renfield isn’t lacking for blood or camp, and there are way more martial arts sequences than one might expect from a vampire flick. It’s a creature feature where Nic Cage’s creature “is truly fucking featured.” The critic says: 

Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence agrees with the above review in the case of gore, calling the film “gloriously violent” and remarking that it carries a bold aesthetic “that loves color as much as it loves seeing a person’s insides on the outside.” More from the review: 

Rachel Leishman of The Mary Sue rates Renfield 5 out of 5 Dracula blood bags, noting that while it’s centered around a familiar Universal monster, it also makes a statement on toxic relationships, with Nicholas Hoult bringing the heart to the movie. And, as the other critics have mentioned, this review warns viewers about just how bloody the movie is, saying: 

Sam Stone of CBR also warns that audiences will chuckle through their winces, saying this film is not for the faint of heart and is at its best when leaning into the goofiness of it all. The critic continues: 

It certainly sounds like Nicolas Cage is perfect for the role and is complemented by Nicholas Hoult’s performance. Could Renfield’s success lead to Cage’s version of Dracula getting a solo movie? If you’re up for this bloody horror comedy, you can catch Renfield in theaters starting Friday, April 14, and in the meantime, be sure to check out our 2023 Movie Release Schedule to see what other films are hitting the big screen soon. 

For the better part of the past 40 years, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has been one of the most popular things in comics, animated series, movies, toys, and even video games. Throughout its history, the pop culture phenomenon has taken different shapes and forms like the Saturday morning cartoon series, the original movies from the early 1990s, and most recently Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie, which made its debut on Netflix on August 5, 2022.

If you have watched the 2022 Netflix movie or have seen the trailer in anticipation of giving it a try, you may be asking yourself, doesn’t the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie cast sound familiar? Well, it could be because some a large portion of the voice cast also appeared on the Nickelodeon series of the same name or from any of the other movies and shows found in the list below…

Ben Schwartz (Leonardo/Leo)

Returning to lead the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie cast just two years after the original Nickelodeon animated series concluded its run is Ben Schwartz as Leo and the future version of himself Leonardo.

Schwartz is no stranger when it comes to voice acting work, even when you take out his previous portrayal of the iconic Ninja Turtle. Over the years, Schwartz has appeared in the Sonic the Hedgehog film franchise as the titular blue speedster, Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the incredibly cute BB-8, BoJack Horseman, Bob’s Burgers, and so much more. His live-action work includes memorable performances on House of Lies, Parks and Recreation, and most recently the Apple TV+ series The Afterparty.

Omar Benson Miller (Raphael/Raph)

Omar Benson Miller, who provided the voice of Raph on the Nickelodeon series throughout its two-year run reprises the character (as well as the version of his character from the future) in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie.

Throughout his career, Miller has also appeared on a number of TV shows including Eleventh Hour, CSI: Miami, Ballers, and the 2022 Apple TV+ original series The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. Throughout that same stretch of time, Miller has landed major roles in movies like Miracle at St. Anna, 8 Mile, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Transformers, and multiple others.

Brandon Mychal Smith (Michelangelo/Mikey)

Once again serving as the voice of Mikey (and the future version of himself known as Michelangelo) on the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie cast is Brandon Mychal Smith.

With a career going back more than 20 years, Smith has been in a little bit of everything since getting his start. This includes recurring roles on TV shows like Phil of the Future, Sonny with a Chance, You’re the Worst, and the 2019 Four Weddings and a Funeral small-screen adaptation. He has also appeared in movies like Dirty Grandpa, The Most Hated Woman in America, and Get on Up, to name only a few.

Josh Brener (Donatello/Donnie)

Josh Brener, who provided the voice of Donnie on Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles throughout its original run, is back to reprise the character in the new movie in addition to playing the version of Donatello sent back from the future.

Brener, like the rest of the actors on the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie cast, is familiar with voice-acting, having appeared in titles like DuckTales (the 2017 reboot), Star Wars Resistance, 101 Dalmatian Street, and The Mighty Ones, in the past few years alone. He has also popped up as a member of the Silicon Valley cast as well as in movies like The Internship, The Front Runner, and What Men Want.

Kat Graham (April O’Neil)

Returning to voice April O’Neil in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie is Kat Graham, who first played the tenacious reporter and the turtles’ best friend on the Nickelodeon animated series throughout its original run between 2018 and 2020.

Throughout her career, Graham has done everything from appear in Nancy Meyers movies like The Parent Trap to show up on Disney Channel original series like Lizzie McGuire and Hannah Montana, and so much more. And in addition to playing April O’Neil on the small screen, Graham has also provided the voice of Rhythm and Blues on Trolls: TrollsTopia since the show debuted on Hulu back in 2020. Graham has also landed roles in movies like the Tupac Shakur biopic All Eyez on Me, Emperor, Operation Christmas Drop, and 17 Again.

Eric Bauza (Splinter)

Prolific voice actor Eric Bauza, who portrayed Splinter on Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is back in the role once again for the new Netflix animated movie, the latest in a long line of gigs to feature his talents.

Over the course of the past 20-plus years, Bauza has brought characters to life on shows likes Ren and Stimpy “Adult Party Cartoon”, The Looney Tunes Show, Adventure Time, Rick and Morty, Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures, Guardians of the Galaxy, and dozens of other shows. He has also been in his fair share of animated movies during that same stretch of time, including titles like The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, The Jetsons and WWE: Robo-WrestleMania!, The Banana Splits Movie, Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and in 2021 he voiced multiple characters in Space Jam: A New Legacy. And this is barely scratching the surface of his output.

Haley Joel Osment (Casey Jones)

And then there is Haley Joel Osment, who makes his franchise debut by portraying the legendary masked vigilante Casey Jones in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie.

The first thing you probably think of when you hear Osment’s name is his career-making performance in The Sixth Sense, which featured M. Night Shyamalan’s best twist ending. But the veteran film and TV actor has also been in a ton of other titles throughout his career, including Forrest Gump, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Pay It Forward, and various other big screen roles. His TV work includes everything from The Jeff Foxworthy Show to The Kominsky Method and Murphy Brown to a short run on The Boys.

You can hear all of these actors from the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie voice cast and more in action right now, as the movie is currently streaming for anyone with a Netflix subscription.

Stream Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie on Netflix.

When it comes to animated films, it’s never a big surprise that a ton of stars tend to join those casts, and now, DC’s League of Super Pets has added to that with their list of stars, from action heroes such as Dwayne Johnson to comedians like Kevin Hart. But with so many characters and so many amazing cast members, you might be wondering where you’ve seen - or heard - them before. 

If you’re like me and trying to see exactly where these famous faces were from, check out where you might have seen the DC’s League of Super Pets voice cast before. 

Dwayne Johnson (Krypto The Super-Dog) 

Starting off with the main hero in DC’s League of Super Pets, we have Krypto, a character I’m pretty familiar with from the Krypto the Super-Dog TV show from a long time ago - but now, he’s in a movie and is voiced by the fabulous Dwayne Johnson. If you don’t know that name, surely you have been living under a rock (pun intended). While he started off his career in the WWE, Johnson continues to prove how talented he is as a movie star. 

He played Maui in Moana, and has appeared in films such as the comedy, The Game Plan, the Jumanji series, Central Intelligence, Rampage, the Fast and Furious series, Skyscraper, Jungle Cruise, and more. He also had a pretty big year in 2021 with the release of Red Notice on Netflix.

Johnson has also had some experience with television as well, producing (and appearing) in the NBC series, Young Rock, as well leading the series, Ballers. 

Kevin Hart (Ace The Hound)

Next up on this list, we have everyone’s favorite hilarious comedian, Kevin Hart, who plays Ace in DC’s League of Super Pets. Hart has been in many movies and produced some hilarious comedy specials, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve seen him before. 

Some of his biggest roles thus far have included Night School, Think Like A Man, Ride Along, The Man From Toronto, About Last Night, and the drama, Fatherhood, alongside many others. This is also the fourth time that Hart and Johnson have collaborated together on a film, with the first being Central Intelligence, and the next two being the Jumanji series. Since these two are always ripping on each other, it’ll be fun to watch the press tour for DC’s League of Super Pets. 

Kate McKinnon (Lulu The Guinea Pig)

Moving on, we now have Kate McKinnon, who voices Lulu the Guinea Pig in DC’s League of Super Pets. If that name sounds familiar to you, it’s because McKinnon was a huge star on NBC’s Saturday Night Live before she left in 2022, but besides her big role on the sketch series, this actress has done plenty. 

Some of her biggest roles this far was being a part of the Bombshell cast, starring in 2016’s Ghostbusters, and the films The Spy Who Dumped Me and Yesteryear, among others. She also had a starring role in the Peacock original series, Joe vs. Carole, playing Carole Baskin. 

John Krasinski (Superman)

Next up on this list we have John Krasinski, who voiced Superman in DC’s League of Super Pets. As someone who has followed Krasinski for a long time, I can’t think of anyone better to voice the superhero in this film. One of his most famous roles was portraying Jim Halpert as part of The Office cast, and becoming the second half to one of the cutest relationships on television, but Krasinski has done plenty of other fun roles. 

Krasinski directed both A Quiet Place movies, while starring in the first one, and has appeared in other films such as Away We Go, It’s Complicated, Big Miracle, and more, and had voice roles in the Pixar film Monsters University, as well as the Hayao Miyazaki film, The Wind Rises. 

The actor has also dived back into television, starring as Jack Ryan in the titular series on Amazon Prime, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. In 2022, he appeared as Reed Richards in Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. 

Vanessa Bayer (PB The Potbelly Pig)

Moving on, we take a look at Vanessa Bayer, who voiced PB the Potbelly Pig in DC’s League of Super Pets. Bayer is another Saturday Night Live alumni and is funny as all heck, but she has also been in plenty of other movies and TV shows as well. 

Some of her biggest movies have been Trainwreck, Office Christmas Party, Ibiza, Barb and Star Go To Vista del Mar, and more. She also has the lead role in the Showtime comedy, I Love That For You, and has guest starred on many other TV shows as well. 

Natasha Lyonne (Merton The Turtle)

Natasha Lyonne voices Merton the Turtle in DC’s League of Super Pets, and has had quite the career in both movies and TV. For the last couple of years, she’s starred in Russian Doll on Netflix, but prior to that, she was a big part of the Orange is the New Black cast, where she played Nicky. However, Lyonne has done much more in the film and television industry than just her roles on TV. 

Some of her biggest roles have been in the American Pie cast, Ad Astra, The United States vs. Billie Holiday, Scary Movie 2, But I’m A Cheerleader, Sleeping With Other People, and many others. 

Diego Luna (Chip The Squirrel)

Moving on, we now take a look at Diego Luna, who voices Chip the Squirrel in DC’s League of Super Pets. Luna has been an even bigger star in Hollywood lately, mainly thanks to his huge role in the popular Star Wars film, Rouge One: A Star Wars Story, where he played Cassian Andor - a role he is set to reprise in the upcoming Disney+ series, Andor, following the character before the film. 

However, Luna has done plenty of other projects you might recognize. He had a big role on the Netflix series, Narcos: Mexico, where he played Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo. He also has appeared in a variety of movie roles, including several Spanish films, Berlin, I Love You, A Rainy Day In New York, Wander Darkly, If Beale Street Could Talk, and more. 

Marc Maron (Lex Luthor)

Marc Maron voices the legendary villain, Lex Luthor, in DC’s League of Super Pets, and he has done plenty in the movie and TV business. Maron is mainly known for his comedy, and has had several guest appearances on late night talk shows, such as the Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, but he’s done plenty on his own. He hosted his own talk show, The Marc Maron Show, and co-hosted both Morning Sedition and Breakroom Live. 

Maron has also acted plenty before, doing movies such as Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Stardust, Joker, Respect, and more. He’s also appeared in many TV shows, including having his own series, Maron, and appearing in shows such as Easy, The Simpsons, and Roadies among others. He also had a co-starring role in the cancelled-too-soon Netflix series, GLOW. 

Keanu Reeves (Batman)

I don’t think I could have pictured a better casting for the role of Batman in DC’s League of Super Pets than Keanu Reeves himself, and it’s so cool to see him voicing this awesome role. Reeves has been in Hollywood for decades, and is one our our most enduring action stars. 

Reeves’ biggest roles have definitely been the Bill & Ted film series, his starring part in The Matrix Series, as well as his titular role in the John Wick movie saga, which is getting a fourth movie in 2023. However, Reeves has plenty of other major films, such as Constantine, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Street Kings, The Lake House, Already Gone, and more. He even had a voice role in Pixar’s Toy Story 4 as Duke Caboom.

Thomas Middleditch (Keith a.k.a. Ice Guinea Pig) 

Moving on, we now take a look at Thomas Middleditch, who voices Keith, known as the Ice Guinea Pig in DC’s League of Super Pets. Middleditch is primarily known for his role on the hit HBO series, Silicon Valley, but has done plenty of other roles that you might recognize him from. 

He has done voice roles in shows such as Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero, and the Hulu original series, Solar Opposites, and had a main role in the TV series, B Positive. He also had a voice role in the movie Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, and has done live-action roles in movies such as Someone Marry Barry, The Bronze, Once Upon A Time in Venice, Tag, Zombieland: Double Tap, and more. 

Ben Schwartz  (Mark a.k.a. Fire Guinea Pig) 

Next up, we have Ben Schwartz, who voices Mark, known as the Fire Guinea Pig in DC’s League of Super Pets. Schwartz was primarily known for his role in the Parks and Recreation cast, but has since gone on to do plenty of other fun parts. 

Some of his biggest film roles have included voicing the titular character in the Sonic the Hedgehog movies, and appearing in Peep World, This Is Where I Leave You, Flora & Ulysses, Falling Down, The Walk, and more. Schwartz has also had a prominent TV career besides Parks and Recreation, having roles in TV shows like Netflix’s Space Force, the comedy series The Afterparty on Apple TV+, House of Lies, Ducktales, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and many more. 

Additional Voices

Lastly, there are plenty of other additional voices in DC’s League of Super Pets that we should take the time to mention. 

These include Olivia Wilde as Lois Lane, Yvette Nicole Brown as Patty, Jameela Jamil as Wonder Woman, Jemaine Clement as Aquaman, Daveed Diggs as Cyborg, Alfred Molina as Jor-El, Lena Headey as Lara, Keith David as Dog-El, Busy Philipps as Foofy Dog, Maya Erskine as Mercy Graves, and Dan Folger in the additional roles of Carl, Pilot, and Radio. 

Goodness, with so many names on here, you might think we were going to an awards show of some kind, but this is just the talent that DC’s League of Super Pets has, and it’ll be a super time wondering where these actors go next after suiting up in their fluffy suits.  

Over the years, acting legends like Bela Lugosi, Gary Oldman, and the late Christopher Lee have given their own spin on the classic vampire character, Count Dracula, with dozens of other names following in their footsteps. Well, in the spring of 2023, Nicolas Cage will join their ranks when he dons the cape in Renfield, the upcoming horror comedy about the iconic character’s henchman. But, instead of doing his master’s bidding without batting an eye, the new movie from Universal Pictures will see the classic literary character go in a new direction.

If this is the first you’ve heard of Renfield, besides seeing that picture of Cage in full costume that circulated in early 2022, worry not, fearless vampire killer, because we’re about to break down everything there is to know about the movie, including its release date, cast, story, tone, and other tidbits of information you won’t want to miss.

Renfield Will Be Released On April 14, 2023

Universal Pictures is going to have quite a busy theatrical slate in the coming year with movies like the upcoming Fast X and the star-studded Oppenheimer serving as just two of the major tent poles holding up the studio’s big 2023 plans. Well, you can add Renfield to that list, as the Dracula comedy (which boasts a stacked cast of its own) is currently slated to be released theatrically on April 14, 2023, per Deadline. The 2023 movie schedule keeps getting better by the day (or night if you’re a vampire), and we’re still months away at this point.

The Renfield Cast Includes Nicolas Cage, Nicholas Hoult, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, And More

When the movie opens in theaters in April 2023 it will feature a rather outstanding Renfield cast of Hollywood A-listers and actors who have been on the rise the past few years. Although Nicolas Cage’s Count Dracula has been getting a lot of attention since his casting was first announced, the main character in the movie, the titular Renfield, will be played by Nicholas Hoult, star of the more recent X-Men movies and the high-octane action thrill ride that was Mad Max: Fury Road.

The other members of the Renfield cast are just as impressive, with Awkwafina, of Crazy Rich Asians and Shang-Chi and Legend of the Ten Rings fame, playing Rebecca Quincy, a traffic cop who catches the eye of Dracula’s assistant. Ben Schwartz, who most recently voiced the blue speedster in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, will appear in a supporting role. Adrian Martinez (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), Shohreh Aghdashloo (The Punisher), Bess Rouss (Murder in the First), James Moses Black (Snowfall), and Caroline Williams (The Mentalist) are all slated to appear as well.

Renfield Follows Dracula’s Lackey As He Leaves His Master To Find Love

As mentioned above, Renfield will focus less on Count Dracula and more on his longtime lackey who finally takes a stand after suffering at his master’s hand for centuries. In January 2022, Deadline reported that the 2023 Universal Pictures monster movie will follow Nicholas Hoult’s Renfield as he finds a new lease on life after meeting and falling in love (much like his character in Warm Bodies) with traffic cop Rebecca Quincy, Awkwafina’s feisty character. Not much else has been revealed about the plot at this point, but expect to find out more as we get closer to its release, especially when a trailer eventually arrives.

The Tomorrow War Director Chris McKay Is Directing Renfield

Back in April 2021, when details about Renfield were scant at best, Deadline reported that the upcoming horror comedy would be directed by Chris McKay, who helmed the Chris Pratt led sci-fi action thriller, The Tomorrow War, which was released later that year. Prior to the Amazon original movie, McKay directed The Lego Batman Movie and 2wks, 1yr. He also served as a writer, director, and producer on a number of Adult Swim stop-motion animation programs throughout his career, including Robot Chicken, Moral Orel, and Titan Maximum.

The same Deadline report also pointed out that Renfield is based on a story written Robert Kirkman, the creative force behind The Walking Dead and Invincible, both the comics and TV adaptations. Longtime Community and Rick and Morty scribe Ryan Ridley wrote the screenplay.

Robert Kirkman Has Described Renfield As An ‘Extremely Violent Comedy’

Anyone familiar with Robert Kirkman’s work, whether it be his comics or various TV projects, knows he has a knack for comedy and violence, and has crafted his own unique style over the years. Well, it sounds like Renfield will be no different, considering what the visionary writer told Kevin Smith on the FatMan Beyond podcast in May 2021:

And, with all the crazy ways Kirkman has killed off The Walking Dead characters and made the lives of others a living hell over the years (while still being funny at times), it sounds like we’re in for quite a treat come April 2023.

Production Has Already Wrapped On Renfield

The buzz surrounding Renfield reached a fever pitch in March 2022 when it was revealed that production on the upcoming Nicolas Cage movie was well underway, but come on, it was mostly due to those incredible on-set photos People published (the images of Cage as Count Dracula are absolutely incredible). Even more good news came about a month later when Ben Schwartz shared on-set image on his Instagram page saying filming had wrapped on the upcoming horror movie:

Judging by the glowing remarks the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 star made in the caption accompanying the photo, it sounds like the shoot was a great way to spend a short amount of time in New Orleans.

Nicolas Cage Took Inspiration From Malignant And Ringu When Preparing For Renfield

With Nicolas Cage playing Count Dracula in Renfield, you would think the Academy Award winner would draw inspiration from the greats who have played the role in the past, but Cage (being Cage and all) wanted to try something different and give audiences a unique version of the character. When speaking on Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast in January 2022, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent star revealed that he took inspiration from some less-than-obvious sources:

How Cage incorporates those non-Dracula inspirations into his character remain to be seen, but they sound interesting nonetheless.

Expect to hear a lot more about Renfield as we get closer to its April 14, 2023 release date. In the meantime, make sure to get all caught up with the rest of the upcoming horror movies coming to theaters and streaming services in the near future.

Minor spoilers for Sonic 2 can be found in this article! Only minor though! 

Sonic the Hedgehog has always been centered around Sega’s iconic mascot, who’s quick on his feet and with his wit. That wit made actor Ben Schwartz an easy fit for taking on the role of the blue speedster in the amazing cast for Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Some improvising naturally made its way into the mix, and in one specific scene, Schwartz’s reputation preceded him as he was asked to mimic none other than Jean-Ralphio Saperstein from Parks and Recreation. 

Two jokes entered, but sadly one joke had to leave, as I learned during the junket for Paramount's Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Speaking with Ben Schwartz and James Marsden on behalf of the film, the quick and freewheeling nature that makes up the franchise's humor kept the room going. It also reminded me of a quick scene, where Sonic and the Wachowski family dog Ozzy settle down to watch some TV. Much like any Paramount+ subscriber, our pals have a lot of choices. 

As Sonic talks about the program they finally settle in to watch, he refers to one of the characters as being “the wo-oo-oo-ooorst.” The Parks and Recreation reference plays as a wonderful surprise when watching Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and it was just as surprising when it came to its inclusion in the finished film. When speaking with CinemaBlend, Ben Schwartz told the following story about how Jean-Ralphio made his way into the Sonic universe: 

There you have it: Jean-Ralphio Saperstein is now canon in the world of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, instead of Sonic learning more about human culture through another fine film, perhaps Speed. That opens the door to a lot of possibilities, as Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s current development cycle could see our young hedgehog consulting Pawnee’s mischievous rich kid as a guiding force on his journey! No?

C'mon, even if it was just a quick special feature or a quirky ad concept that promoted the movies, to see Sonic and Jean-Ralphio saving the universe would be the total opposite of this Parks and Rec fixture’s catchphrase. 

It’s a surprising admission, because when taking his Space Force role, Ben Schwartz admitted he was trying to avoid playing another Jean-Ralphio Saperstein. Still, returning to that well of comedic glee in the specific context of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 makes perfect sense. Sonic is like a teenager in our universe, and he latches onto pop culture in his own special way. Which means he’s probably run into the best moments of Jean-Ralphio in Parks and Recreation like the rest of us, and it’s time to take a break to honor that decision in the best way possible: 

Knowing there is a Parks and Rec reference in Sonic 2 should have fans of both franchises pumped. Unfortunately, the moment that did make it into the movie came at a cost, which was the deletion of another Jean-Ralphio callback. Ben Schwartz filled me in on that gag that didn’t make the cut, which had co-star James Marsden responding in a way very similar to my own thoughts on the matter:

"Ben Schwartz: But there was one other Jean-Ralphio reference in [Sonic 2]. There was a ‘Don’t Be Suspicious’ reference, and we cut it, because we decided that more than one Jean-Ralphio reference is way too many Jean-Ralphio references. 

James Marsden: No, you can never have too many. "

Can you have too much Jean-Ralphio? Scientists, scholars and the NBC board of executives will have to mull that over and get back with a definitive answer. Personally, I think the second joke would have worked, as it’s such a popular meme that audiences would have dug seeing it in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. However, the decision making on this sequel certainly hasn’t hurt its image, thanks to a pretty pleasant critical response to Sonic 2.

As it stands, perhaps we’ll see that second Jean-Ralphio scene in the deleted scenes that might accompany the home video release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Much like the deleted alternate fate of Longclaw and the very different Sonic The Hedgehog opening  that originally kicked things off, we might get another look into what could have been further down the line. Maybe we'll even receive an update on whether Crazy Carl is still crazy or not -- and spoilers -- because he too is missing from this new film. 

Now’s not the time though, as Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is waiting for audiences to accept it into their hearts. Though you’ll have to speed off to the theater, as this adventure is only playing on silver screens currently. For all the other big ticket showstoppers heading to your local multiplex, our guide to this year’s upcoming movies is available to lead the way.

Sonic is back, and just like in the video game, the movie Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will introduce the sidekick Tails (voiced by Colleen O'Shaughnessey), as a number of familiar faces return for more Dr. Eggman-fighting fun. Ben Schwartz once again provides his vocal skills for the fast-footed titular mammal, joined once more by James Marsden as Tom, for a face-off against Jim Carrey’s Eggman and his newest accomplice Knuckles (Idris Elba) as they search for the Master Emerald. The critics’ reviews are in to help us decide if this sequel is one we’ll be hitting the theaters for. 

Along with James Marsden as Tom, Tika Sumpter returns as Maddie and Natasha Rothwell as Rachel. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will see Knuckles and Eggman (with right-hand man Agent Stone, played again by Lee Majdoub) team up to exact revenge on Sonic, while he and Tails try to keep the Master Emerald from falling into the wrong hands. Early reactions to the film — premiering in theaters Friday, April 8 — were positive, so let’s look at what the critics liked (or didn’t) about Sonic the Hedgehog 2. 

We'll start with Carlos Aguilar of The Wrap, who finds the sequel surprisingly satisfying, saying that Jim Carrey is allowed to be unfettered in his performance, and the film benefits from more animated characters and Carrey, and less James Marsden:

Peter Debruge of Variety says the cast has already proven a good match for the material, and director Jeff Fowler is able to successfully combine CG characters with their human co-stars. However, the runtime pushes such luck a bit too far:

Justin Lowe of THR calls Sonic the Hedgehog 2 "frantic fun," saying it will appeal to family audiences seeking spring break distractions even if it doesn’t break new ground in the franchise:

Some critics have noted the film’s run time, which is 122 minutes, should have been closer to 90. Leslie Felperin of The Guardian rates the movie 3 out of 5 stars: 

John Nugent of Empire rates the movie 2 stars out of 5. He says the Sonic sequel is really more of the same, which doesn't mean it's great, but it's also worth remembering how successful its predecessor was:

Sean Keane of CNET, however, finds Sonic the Hedgehog 2 a delightful sequel that captures a childlike sense of adventure. However, he also notes the movie feels about 20 minutes too long, and it feels like the writers didn't really know what to do with James Marsden and Tika Sumpter:

It seems like critics enjoy some parts of this video game-inspired sequel, especially the addition of the other animated characters, and praise for Jim Carrey's performance makes that seem like as much of a live-action highlight as anything. 

If you want to check out Sonic the Hedgehog 2, you can catch it in theaters starting Friday, April 8. Be sure to check out our 2022 Movie Release Schedule to find more upcoming movies to spend some of those hard-earned rings on.

The first Sonic the Hedgehog movie was a surprise hit back in 2020 before the pandemic wreaked havoc on everything, and its sequel has been highly anticipated. Ben Schwartz returns as the titular hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and James Marsden is back as Tom — one of several actors reprising their roles from the original. Headed for theaters April 8, the movie was screened for critics, so let’s check out their first reactions.

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, with Tom and Maddie (Tika Sumpter) in Hawaii to see Rachel (Natasha Rothwell) get married, Dr. Eggman (Jim Carrey) returns to search for the Master Emerald. Along with right-hand man Agent Stone (Lee Majdoub) and Knuckles the Echidna (Idris Elba), Dr. Eggman tries to exact revenge on Sonic. The hedgehog joins forces with Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey) to make sure the emerald doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. 

So what did the critics think after screening Sonic the Hedgehog 2? CinemaBlend’s Mike Reyes says he really enjoyed it, and that its themes of friendship, heroism and honor were fun to watch. He also says the cast is perfect, especially Natasha Rothwell.

Chris Killian of ComicBook.com likes the addition of Tails and Knuckles, and while Jim Carrey is amazing as Robotnik, this sequel allows its other stars to shine as well. He also advises audiences to stay past the credits:

Erik Davis of Fandango agrees that Robotnik shines with his new powers, and says fans of the franchise will feast on the easter eggs. If the first movie is about discovering new family, the sequel looks at the power of friendship, and the relationship between Sonic and Tails is this critic’s favorite part:

Ash Crossen of ScreenRant said Sonic the Hedgehog 2 had the younger audience members in her screening howling, which sounds pretty promising:

Plenty of critics seemed to think this sequel has stronger ties to the classic video game, helped by the addition of Tails and Knuckles. Nikki Novak of Fandango was one, saying this sequel is like a love letter to video game fans. 

Dana Abercrombie of The Koalition says this sequel outshines the original, and she can’t wait to see more of this franchise in the future.

Dorian Parks of Geeks of Color says the cinematography of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 didn’t have to go as hard as it does, and she commends Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba and Colleen O'Shaughnessey for the way they bring their animated characters to life.

The first reactions to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 are overwhelmingly positive! Many of the critics are praising Jim Carrey for his role, and it sounds like the addition of Tails and Knuckles add to the video game feel of the experience. We’ll be able to read the critics’ full reviews on March 28 — be sure to check back with CinemaBlend for those — but these first reactions might give you an idea about what to expect. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will premiere in theaters on Friday, April 8. In the meantime, check out our 2022 Movie Release Schedule to see what else is coming soon!

Much of the anticipation leading up to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has been building courtesy of the film’s stars (mostly, lead star Ben Schwartz’s social media campaign). He’s been hyping the sequel for months now, but in the last few weeks, he has gone all-in as the release date quickly approaches. At this point, no one can question Schwartz’s dedication to the film and its success. But a recent social media post by the Afterparty star exemplified how much of a priority the anticipated follow-up has become to him.

Schwartz’s pride for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 knew no bounds even outside of social media. The actor showcased his dedication to the sequel in an Instagram post. After seeing a movie theater display’s Sonic cardboard cutout had been stolen, Ben Schwartz took it upon himself to replace the cutout in the standee. In true Schwartz fashion, he didn’t just find or request another cutout but added himself to the display. To see how the Space Force star filled in for his character, check his funny post below.

The Sonic the Hedgehog 2 star didn’t want moviegoers to miss out on the chance to see Sonic so he stepped in for the blue video game icon. Imagine seeing Ben Schwartz just posing in your local movie theater lobby. That must’ve been a sight for many Sonic fans. His expression alone should’ve warranted some fan frenzy. It just showed how proud the actor is to portray the blue hedgehog as a fan of the games himself. It’s nice to know a film lead is as invested in such a beloved character and its lore as the fanbase is. The photo hinted at a possible ramping up or more sightings of the Schwartz hype train.

There’s so much more to look forward to from the Sonic star and his co-stars in the upcoming sequel. Sonic 2 director Jeff Fowler already teased more possible easter eggs in the film outside of Tails and Eggman’s signature vehicles. Fans can expect certain zones and imagery to make their cinematic debut. But if all the aesthetics don’t fit into the Sonic sequel, fans can look forward to more of the blue hedgehog’s adventures with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and a Knuckles TV series in development. Of course, there’s a wealth of Sonic storylines fans would like to see adapted for the emerging franchise.

If Schwartz’s social media hype wasn’t enough, Jim Carrey’s Eggman unleashing his new powers in the final trailer made the film a must-see in 2022. Thankfully, fans will get to see Schwartz’s Sonic and the cast return (with some new additions) when Sonic the Hedgehog 2 arrives in theaters on Apr. 8. Sonic 2 is just one of the multiple upcoming movies Schwartz has coming out in 2022.

Film adaptations of Bram Stoker’s Dracula have been commonplace in cinema since the release of 1922’s Nosferatu, though Bela Lugosi was the first actor to officially bring the infamous vampire to life on the big screen in 1931. Like in the original novel, many of these adaptations include Renfield, Count Dracula’s henchman who was locked away in an insane asylum and desperate to gain immortality. Well, more than after 120 years after Dracula was published, it’s time for Renfield to get the spotlight, and he’ll do so in his own movie from Universal Pictures.

Based on an original pitch from The Walking Dead and Invincible creator Robert Kirkman, Renfield sees its eponymous protagonist getting a new lease on life in the present day after spending centuries as Dracula’s poorly-treated lackey, leading to him falling in love with a feisty traffic cop. This comedic take on the Dracula mythos is being directed by The Tomorrow War’s Chris McKay and written by Rick & Morty alum Ryan Ridley. Renfield is among the 2023 movie releases to look forward to, so this a good time to discuss Nicolas Cage, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Awkwafina and the other actors making up the main cast. But first, let’s talk about who’s playing Renfield himself.

Nicholas Hoult

Nicolas Hoult is arguably best known for playing Hank McCoy/Beast in the “First Class” era of X-Men movies, with those movies following his progression from a bright-eyed young scientist to veteran superhero and teacher who cycled between looking like a normal human and rocking blue fur. Hoult has also starred in Mad Max: Fury Road, Rebel in the Rye, The Favourite, Tolkien and Those Who Wish Me Dead, and he also co-leads Hulu’s The Great with Elle Fanning. As seen in the first Renfield trailer, Hoult’s R.M. Renfield has been gifted with special abilities because he serves Dracula, but are those worth it in exchange for the abuse he puts up with… and, you know, sacrificing the lives of innocents? Evidently not since he seeks out a support group and realizes that if he if he doesn’t prioritize Dracula, the vampire will lose his power. And speaking of that fanged fiend…

Nicolas Cage

More than three decades after his uncle, Francis Ford Coppola, directed Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Nicolas Cage is bringing the iconic vampire to life in Renfield. Although this is a comedy (like his previous outing in the world of vampires, 1989’s Vampire’s Kiss), don’t think that means he isn’t taking preparation for the role seriously, as Cage wants his Dracula to “pop in a unique way,” and even turned to the 2021 horror movie Malignant for inspiration. For those who haven’t followed along with Cage’s career in recent years, some of the the movies he’s popped up in include Mandy, Color Out of Space, Primal, Willy’s Wonderland and Pig. He was also convinced into playing a fictionalized version of himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Refield also marks Cage’s first time working with Nicolas Hoult since The Weather Man, when Hoult was a teenager.

Awkwafina

Although Awkwafina’s been active in the entertainment world since she was a teenager, 2018 saw her skyrocketing to new levels of fame thanks to her roles in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean’s 8. Since then, along with joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe to play Katy Chen in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, she’s also starred in The Farewell, Jumanji: The Next Level and Raya and the Last Dragon, as well as her own TV series, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens. In addition to voicing Scuttle in Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, Awkwafina is also appearing in Renfield as Rebecca Quincy, the previously-mentioned traffic cop the title character falls in love with once he charts a new life path. Understandably though, she is disgusted to learn that Renfield essentially serves as Dracula’s Postmates.

Ben Schwartz

Some of you may instantly recognize Ben Schwartz from on-camera work like Parks & Recreation, Space Force and The Afterparty, while others may know his voice from projects like Sonic the Hedgehog, DuckTales and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Whatever the case, Schwartz has a diverse resume, and Renfield will spice it up further. The actor will play a mobster (supposedly named Teddy Lobo, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet) who I’m guessing will somehow end up on Rebecca Quincy’s radar as a law enforcement officer, thus explaining how he comes into Renfield’s life too.

Adrian Martinez

Rebecca Quincy will be joined in carrying out traffic cop duties by her partner Chris, played by Adrian Martinez. Even if his name doesn’t ring a bell, chances are you’ve seen him in at least a couple things given all the film and TV credits he’s collected. Some of the highlights include Kick-Ass, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Focus and Disney’s Lady and the Tramp remake, as well as being a main cast member on the short-lived TV shows The Blacklist: Redemption and Stumptown.

Shohreh Aghdashloo

Fans of The Expanse will instantly recognize Shohreh Aghdashloo as Chrisjen Avasarala, one of the lead characters for the entirety of the show’s run. But if you didn’t watch the recently-concluded sci-fi series, maybe you remember the actress from movies like House of Sand and Fog, X-Men: The Last Stand and Rosewater, or TV shows like 24, Grimm and The Punisher. Aghdashloo is appearing in Renfield as Ella, a feared crime lord, though it’s unclear if she’s the boss of Ben Schwartz’s character or a rival criminal.

Bess Rous

With all the abuse Nicolas Cage’s Dracula has piled on Nicholas Hoult’s Renfield, the former minion wouldn’t be faulted for having a lot of issues to work through. Fortunately, it sounds like he’ll seek some help during the movie, because Bess Rous is starring as Caitlyn, a member of a support group for people in toxic relationships. You might know Rous from TV shows like Murder in the First and Other Space, or perhaps noticed her as Gertrude Aldrige in 2016’s Ghostbusters.

James Moses Black

Next up in the Renfield lineup is James Moses Black, who’s known from TV shows like Nashville, 24: Legacy and Snowfall. Deadline’s report of Black being cast in Renfield didn’t mention anything about his character, but the actor’s role is listed on IMDB as Captain J. Browning. Assuming this is true, then my money’s on this Captain Browning being the officer Awkwafina’s Rebecca and Adrian Martinez’s Chris report to, meaning there’s a chance he might end up running into Renfield at some point.

Caroline Williams

Caroline Williams has been around the acting block, from popping up in movies like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Days of Thunder and How The Grinch Stole Christmas, to guest starring on TV shows like L.A. Law, NYPD Blue and The Mentalist. Williams confirmed her involvement in Renfield on Twitter, and once again, IMDB supposedly lists the identity of her character: Vanessa. Whether that’s indeed her name or she’s called something else, going off the necklace Williams was wearing in that social media post, I wouldn’t be surprised if this individual is associated with Dracula in some way.

Brandon Scott Jones

Brandon Scott Jones has been on a hot streak in TV over the last few years, having recurred on both The Good Place and The Other Two, as well as currently starring in CBS’s Ghosts, where he plays American Revolution officer Captain Isaac Higgintoot. Film-wise, his credits include the Rebel Wilson-led features Isn’t It Romantic and Senior Year, and now Renfield is joining that lineup of cinematic work. Jones is playing Mark, the leader of the support group that Renfield goes to when he’s finally had enough of Dracula.

Renfield opens in theaters on April 24, so keep visiting CinemaBlend for more coverage on the movie, including our review once its out. Since this is a Universal release, it’s also a good bet you’ll be able to stream it with a Peacock subscription later in the year.

Writer/Director duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller join the show to discuss the finale of their new Apple TV+ show The Afterparty. We dive into plenty of spoilers so be warned, and series star Ben Schwartz joins in on the fun! 

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The first Sonic the Hedgehog movie was a massive hit  and became the highest grossing movie based on a video game (domestically) despite the fact that it had its box office run cut a bit short by a global pandemic. The upcoming sequel is looking to be bigger in every possible way, and Ben Schwartz, the voice of Sonic, is hyping up fans by promising that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will be “epic.”

We know that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will be a “bigger” movie by virtue of the fact that two other major characters from the game franchise, Sonic sidekick Tails and Knuckles the echidna, who will be voiced by Idris Elba, will be appearing in the new movie. ComicBook.com tried to get some more info on what’s in store for fans of Sonic from Ben Schwartz, and while he revealed no specifics, he played up just how big the new film will be, saying…

Ben Schwartz’s comments are very similar to those we got from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 director Jeff Fowler, in that it’s being strongly hinted that, while the first trailer for the film has revealed quite a bit, there’s a lot more that has yet to be seen. It seems likely that more characters from the video game series could appear, but who they might be is anybody’s guess.

We’ve only had the smallest taste of Idris Elba’s Knuckles in the trailer for the movie, but the announcement that Elba was voicing Knuckles was met with a very positive reaction.

While Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is looking to be a lot bigger in scale than the first movie, the big question will likely be whether the box office will scale up to match. The first movie was a massive domestic hit and a moderate international success. But even massive blockbuster movies have had a difficult time in the pandemic era. Spider-Man: No Way Home has shown us that the audience can show up, but far more movies have had to adjust box office expectations. 

Of all the various worlds and characters owned by Disney, The Muppets have had a more difficult road than most. While they've seen some recent successes, like the 2011 movie The Muppets, they've also had some failures, like the 2015 TV series The Muppets. The most recent franchise entries, like the Disney+ series Muppets Now were met with positive response, but not with a massive audience. But a couple of comedians may have found the perfect way to bring back the Muppets, a live-action movie with Josh Gad and Ben Schwartz as Bunsen and Beaker.

Ok, so yes, the idea sounds absolutely insane, but maybe that's why it's perfect. Ben Schwartz started the whole thing off by claiming on Twitter that he had "accomplished nothing" until he played Beaker in a live-action origin story of the Muppet Labs sidekick. Of course, this idea leads to an obvious question, who would play Dr. Bunsen Honeydew? Schwartz put out the call and got a very enthusiastic response from Josh Gad.

I'm not saying we need a live-action Bunsen and Beaker movie. I'm just saying that if we were to get one, we could do a lot worse than Josh Gad and Ben Schwartz in the lead roles. They could absolutely pull it off, and if Ben Schwartz thinks he looks like a real life Beaker, then Josh Gad would fit equally well as Bunsen Honeydew. And Gad has never met a Disney project he didn't love. And his previous Muppet series idea fell apart, so he has probably been waiting for this.

Of course, a live-action Muppet movie is sort of a wild idea to begin with. Being puppets, the Muppets are that much closer to being live-action as it is, and since actual human actors appear with them all the time, recreating Muppet characters as human would just feel weird. This movie idea isn't really going to happen, but it still does make one want to at least get an idea of what it would look like. You can picture it quite easily, and it sounds amazing, or possibly terrifying. Even Ben Schwartz seems to understand just what a monster he has created.

But of course, if you were doing a live-action movie about Bunsen and Beaker, you'd probably need to include a few more Muppet characters, which would mean even more actors playing Muppets. The whole thing might work as a short or some sort of comedy sketch. But perhaps as a full on origin story movie, it might outlast its welcome. But I still want to see Josh Gad and Ben Schwartz as Bunsen and Beaker. Even if they just dress up as the characters for Halloween it could be great.

Between video games movies often being hit or miss with audiences and the outcry over the titular character’s original design, 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog faced an uphill battle with its theatrical run. Fortunately for all those involved in its production, the popular SEGA character’s cinematic debut proved to be a hit, scoring a lot of positive reception and making over $319 million worldwide. By May 2020, it was announced that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 had been greenlit, and it was later announced that it would release in spring 2022.

Now that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is filming, this is a great time to go over who’s making up the sequel’s cast. But before discussing the voice behind the rapid mammal, let’s first talk about the biggest on-camera actor from the first movie who’s back for another round of Sonic action, Jim Carrey.

Jim Carrey

For decades, Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik has been Sonic the Hedgehog’s arch-nemesis in the video game franchise, so it was only appropriate to select him as the main villain for the Sonic the Hedgehog movie. When we last left off with Jim Carrey’s iteration of the antagonist, he’d been stranded on the mushroom planet, looked much more like his video game counterpart and become insane. But Carrey’s Robotnik is still as smart as ever and vowed to escape the alien world to exact revenge on Sonic, and he’ll finally succeed with that goal in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. But he won’t be alone: Robotnik will be accompanied by Knuckles the Echidna, with the two of them teaming up to find a magical emerald that will give them the power to build and destroy civilizations.

Ben Schwartz

While many of you are likely most familiar with Ben Schwartz from his role as Jean Ralphio in Parks & Recreation, he also has an extensive voice acting resume, from Ducktales to M.O.D.O.K. As far as film work goes though, it’s safe to say that Sonic the Hedgehog marked Schwartz’s biggest vocal gig, and he’s back to voice the hedgehog in the sequel. Having been adapted by Tom and Maddie Wachowski at the end of the first movie, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 sees its eponymous protagonist longing for more freedom, and he finally gets it when the couple let Sonic stay at home alone when they go on vacation. Unfortunately, Sonic’s chill session is interrupted by Robotik’s return, so he’ll need to team up with Tails (who cameoed in Sonic the Hedgehog’s mid-credits scene) to stop the mad scientist and Knuckles from obtaining that emerald.

James Marsden

Sonic the Hedgehog is super fast, but even he needs help. Luckily, as already mentioned, he has a family in his corner, starting off with X-Men and Enchanted actor James Marsden playing Tom Wachowski, the sheriff of Green Hills, Montana. Although Tom started off in Sonic the Hedgehog looking to get out of Green Hills, resulting in him almost taking a job with the San Francisco Police Department, his adventure with Sonic made him realize that Green Hills is truly his home. But as already noted, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will have Tom and Madde traveling out of town, though don’t be surprised if their vacation is cut short and they’re drawn into the sequel’s action.

Tika Sumpter

Veterinarian Maddie Wachowski, played by Get on Up and Mixed-ish actress Tika Sumpter, didn’t learn about Sonic the Hedgehog’s existence at the same time time as Tom, but once her husband and Sonic met up with her San Francisco while they were fleeing Dr. Robotnik, it didn’t take her long to get up to speed and join the adventure. We’ll have to wait and see how involved Maddie is involved in Sonic’s shenanigans in the sequel, though I suspect that she’ll have more screen time compared to the first movie. It’s also worth mentioning that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will reportedly feature a character named Randall who will only interact with Tom and Maddie.

Adam Pally

Green Hills, Montana may be a small town, but it takes more than one law enforcement officer to look after its citizens. As such, Tom Wachowski is aided by his chief deputy, Wade Whipple, played by Happy Endings and Crossing Swords actor Adam Pally. Wade was present in Sonic the Hedgehog’s final battle to try and stop Dr. Robtnik from hurting Tom, and he got to see Sonic battle the mad scientist. Aside from presumably still working with Tom as his chief deputy, it’s unclear how Wade will fit into Sonic the Hedgehog 2, though it’s reasonable to expect him to provide more comedic relief.

Natasha Rothwell

Natasha Rothwell of Insecure and Wonder Woman 1984 fame starred in Sonic the Hedgehog as Rachel, Maddie’s older sister who disapproved of Tom and kept urging Madde to leave him. Unless Rachel and her daughter Jojo (played by Melody Niemann) have moved to Green Hills, I’m guessing that Tom and Maddie will go visit her in San Francisco. Though that then begs the question of if Rachel and Jojo will get to see Sonic, let alone be involved in any of Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s action. I’m also curious to see if Rachel’s opinion of Tom has improved at all.

Shemar Moore

So far, the only new actor who’s been announced for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is Shermar Moore, who is best known for playing Derek Morgan on Criminal Minds and Hondo on S.W.A.T., both CBS shows. There’s no word yet on who Moore is playing, although the fact that he was photographed on set with James Marsden, Tika Sumpter and Natasha Rothwell indicates he’ll be a human character rather than voicing one of Sonic’s animated costars. This is Moore’s first time appearing in a theatrically-released movie since 2016’s The Bounce Back.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 races into theaters on April 8, 2022. While we wait for more casting news and other updates about the sequel’s progress, keep track of the movie still set to arrive this year with our 2021 release schedule.

The sequel to last year’s box office success Sonic The Hedgehog is currently in production and we’ve been starting to get some hints here and there about what’s to come in 2022. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will once again star Ben Schwartz as the blue video game icon, James Marsden, Jim Carrey and some new faces, which have just been welcomed by the production.

The movie reportedly wrapped principal photography in Vancouver, Canada last month, but as it gears up for release next year, we’ve learned of a new cast member who has joined the cast. Check out Shemar Moore’s welcome to the cast:

Shemar Moore is an illustrious TV actor, who has memorable roles in Criminal Minds, The Young and the Restless and most recently S.W.A.T. on CBS. He’s now joined Sonic the Hedgehog 2 cast as he announced on Twitter. The official account for the movie reposted the photo to welcome the actor in a set photo where he stands next to James Marsden, Tika Sumpter and Natasha Rothwell, who are reprising their roles from the first film.

At this point, we do not know who Shemar Moore is playing in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, but it’s great to see a fresh face on the set of the action comedy. It looks like it was all smiles on the video game-inspired sequel and we’ll be excited to see what Moore brings to the movie.

The production has had a speedy turnaround following the commercial success of Sonic the Hedgehog in February 2020, just ahead of theater closures a month later. The Paramount movie made $319 million worldwide against a $85 million budget, and received overall positive reviews from audiences.

Along with giving the nostalgic character the big-screen treatment, it made for Jim Carrey’s comeback into the comedy genre with his role as Dr. Robotnik. On the set of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Carrey gave one crew member a brand new $40,000 Chevy Blazer as a lottery prize to thank them for their hard work.

At the end of the first film, Dr. Robotnik found himself hanging out in another dimension and Sonic’s best friend Miles “Tails” Prower was introduced during the mid-credits sequence. We’ll have to wait and see how things shake out, but the production is set for a release next spring on April 8, 2022. It will have some major competition during its opening weekend in the form of the Brad Pitt-led action film Bullet Train.

Until then, Sonic the Hedgehog is available to stream on Paramount+ and you can check out what movies are coming this summer (video game adaptations included) with CinemaBlend’s 2021 release schedule.

The phrase "hit movie based on a video game" is not one that gets used frequently. And yet it's about all there is that can be said about the Sonic the Hedgehog movie. While I'm fairly certain it came out a million years ago before global pandemics became the norm, the film was one of the last movies to get a solid theatrical run. And it made the most of its time, becoming the third highest grossing movie of 2020 and one of the most successful video game adaptations ever. Now with a sliver of light at the end of the tunnel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is on the way.

The sequel was given the green light just after it was released to a strong reception from both fans and critics. And now, only a year after the first movie came out, the second one is in production. Director Jeff Fowler made the announcement that the movie is happening on Twitter, which will likely make a lot of fans of the first movie very happy.

Sonic the Hedgehog made over $300 million at the global box office, and was probably still good for a few more bucks if movie theaters hadn't closed down. But even with that total the movie was a solid hit. It wasn't the highest grossing movie ever based on a video game, but numbers like that are the sort that make sequels happen. And that's exactly what happened here. The movie already has a release date in April of next year, so the movie is right on schedule in terms of production.

The first movie ended with a sequel tease that showed Sonic the Hedgehog video game character Tails, Sonic's frequent sidekick, make the jump from his world to the "real world" looking for Sonic. Beyond that, we don't really know what the next movie will actually be about. There have been rumors that another video game character, Knuckles the echidna, will appear. But nothing has been confirmed in that regard quite yet. Fans were campaigning for Dwayne Johnson to be cast in the role, and as far as we know, that's still a possibility.

All in all the turn around on this whole movie has been even faster than we're used to seeing with a sequel to a successful film. Which, I suppose considering the subject matter, isn't too much of a shock. At the same time, filming Sonic the Hedgehog 2 right now might make even more sense than most other films. Assuming that the sequel follows the structure of the first film, we're going to see a lot of humans interacting with CGI characters. Which, if nothing else, should allow for easier social distancing on set.

Sometimes life can be a random series of events leading to fortuitous or not-so-fortuitious moments. For Ben Schwartz, getting to voice BB-8 -- albeit briefly -- in the Star Wars universe seems like kind of a bit of both. The actor known for Sonic the Hedgehog, Parks and Rec and the recent Disney+ film Flora & Ulysses does actually have a credit in the Star Wars universe, and told us his shot came after Harrison Ford infamously injured himself on set.

Like many an actor or actress who finds out that he or she will be in the Star Wars universe, Ben Schwartz revealed his excitement and glee over getting to help voice BB-8 early on as the latest trilogy of movies was coming together. Plus, he also revealed how Harrison Ford’s infamous injury on the set of The Force Awakens led to it happening. On a set visit for the Disney+’s Flora & Ulysses, Schwartz recalled the tale and it was one filled with ups and downs, beginning with the movie having to shut down production for a couple of weeks.

Now, Harrison Ford injuring himself on the set of Star Wars: The Force Awakens was a big deal at the time and the story rolled around, likely due to the fact the actor he injured himself when the Millennium Falcon slammed down on his leg. Production on the Disney-owned property was halted for two weeks and J.J. Abrams has spoken in the past about some of the changes the script needed that were only able to happen after Ford hurt himself (thankfully he was fine).

We knew previously this timeframe was when Rey and Finn’s relationship was reworked, as J.J. Abrams himself admitted a few short years ago. Now, Ben Schwartz has explained how his work with BB-8 entered the picture during this timeframe as well.

Ben Schwartz has spoken about his work on Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the past, noting that actual lines of dialogue were written, but he also shared a few more details about all of the work that went in before Bill Hader famously took over and then ultimately the final product was able to be created.

So did Star Wars: The Force Awakens and subsequent movies use Ben Schwartz’s work? In a way, as the actor also revealed to us what he knows about the final BB-8 product.

At the end of the day, Ben Schwartz also told us he got to putz around on set a day John Williams was there and we also know that he was able to play a Stormtrooper for a scene as well. So, it sounds like he really did make the most of the experience even if the whole BB-8 plan didn’t work out exactly as expected. It’s certainly an example of making blue milk out of lemons if I’ve ever seen one.

Catch him in Flora & Ulysses on Disney+ now.

Minor spoilers for Flora & Ulysses can be found in this article, but nothing that would spoil your enjoyment of the family film.

What draws an actor or actress to a particular script or project? The answer to this question certainly varies, but if you were to ask Ben Schwartz why he wanted to play a dad in the new Disney+ film Flora & Ulysses, his answer was simple: Flight. Given he's expressed interest in playing a superhero in the past, this should be no huge shocker, but the story behind what happened when the actor was on set filming the sequence is particularly amusing.

During a visit to the set of Flora & Ulysses CinemaBlend attended prior to the global events of the past year, Ben Schwartz fondly recalled getting the script for the film. One scene in particular really caught his eye as he realized he may not be the superhero in the movie, but his character would get their own superhero moment. That moment?

If you’ve seen the movie in question, the trank gun plots are some of the funniest in the film, but it was the flying scene that really got the actor excited about starring in the movie. However, there’s a Part 2 to this story as well, as Ben Schwartz actually had to film the Flora & Ulysses scene in question, which didn't go as well as anticipated. As many superhero-esque scenes require these days, this one was harness-based, similar to the harnesses the various Avengers have used for flight and other key superhero moments in the Disney films.

I don’t know if Ben Schwartz is aware of this, but there’s a somewhat famous incident where Schwartz’s Parks and Recreation co-star Chris Pratt was working in a harness and things did not go particularly well either. In fact, Pratt famously was doing a Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 stunt where he flew through the air a little too fast and ultimately crash-landed and was knocked unconscious. So, I guess what I’m saying is, maybe Schwartz isn’t as much of a novice as he thinks he is. Harnesses are difficult and things can easily go wrong.

If you and your family have caught Flora & Ulysses on Disney+, you probably already know the scene Schwartz is talking about and I think it turned out well! Despite the fact the Disney+ film doesn’t have quite as hefty of a budget as some of Disney’s Marvel tentpole movies, a lot of the magical, action-oriented and CGI scenes are delightful and play into the overall vision of the film, which is solidly filled with funny pop culture references and Easter eggs. (The doorbell scene is my favorite.)

Ben Schwartz also mentioned to Cinemablend and other outlets that reading the script he was looking for "the magical, Disney-type moments" and it seems like he found plenty--even if they didn't always play out how he anticipated. Give the Disney+ film a try and you will too.

Happy awards season, everyone! It’s the time of the year when Hollywood and moviegoers reflect on the best movies and performances within the past year. As we head into the Golden Globes this Sunday, Minari’s breakout actor, 8-year-old Alan Kim, showed some love for an actor who is quick on his feet, often plays blue and just starred alongside two-time Golden Globe-winner Jim Carrey in last year’s blockbuster hit, Sonic the Hedgehog. Yes, Sonic!

When the young Minari actor was recently interviewed for W Magazine, he named ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ his favorite actor, which is obviously adorable. Following the sentiments, the (whispers) real actor behind the voice of the character, Ben Schwartz, sent Alan Kim a surprise message. Check it out:

Well, isn’t that just the best? The studio behind Minari, A24, shared the video of the 8-year-old as he listened to Ben Schwartz as Sonic, addressed a message to him saying “hi” and getting all excited to hear he’s his favorite actor. Sonic hasn’t quite seen Minari yet, but he is off to take down Robotnik again, as he often does. Kim didn’t say anything in the video, but he gives a sweet smile and nod following the video. You can just tell that made his day, and his parents definitely got a kick out of it too.

The original interview was published just the other day, but a proud A24 shared the section of the interview all over social media, and it caught the attention of Ben Schwartz. The actor, also known as Jean Ralphio in Parks and Recreation and can now be seen in Disney+’s Flora & Ulysses, replied to the message sharing that Sonic “would love” to send him a voice note, and low and behold!

Ben Schwartz just saw the video too. He shared this to Twitter:

There you go, kids. Sometimes Twitter can be harnessed for good. It’s not a pairing we would expect to make our day, but now that it’s happened, it’s so gosh darn cute. Minari is Alan Kim’s first movie, but since the movie has received high praise, including being nominated for a Golden Globe, he’s getting a bit of the Hollywood experience. In any other year, he’d be rubbing elbows with other actors in real time, but Schwartz’s Sonic message makes it sweet and special.

Alan Kim would also be happy to hear that a second Sonic the Hedgehog movie is officially coming in 2022. Ben Schwartz recently said the movie will begin filming in the next few months, and let's also not forget about the forthcoming animated Netflix series. For now, check out the Korean-American family film Minari in select theaters or on VOD rental ahead of the Golden Globes this Sunday.

Video game movies are notorious for not being well received by the general public, but in recent years, there have been some notable exceptions. For instance, last year’s Sonic the Hedgehog not only did fairly well for itself critically, but also became the highest-grossing domestic video game film adaptation. Three months after Sonic’s theatrical run kicked off, Paramount Pictures announced a sequel was in development, and now Ben Schwartz, the voice of the blue speedster, has given an update on how far along Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has gotten.

While promoting his new movie, Disney+’s Flora & Ulysses, Ben Schwartz briefly informed with ComicBookMovie about Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s current status with the following:

As things stand now, Ben Schwartz is in the middle of shooting The Afterparty, an Apple TV+ series hailing from the minds of The LEGO Movie duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Schwartz will shoot the second season of Netflix’s Space Force soon after, so he has a ways to go before he reprises Sonic the Hedgehog. It’s unclear how involved Schwartz will be in principal photography given how he voices the character and provides facial motion capture, but nevertheless, the actor sounds jazzed about what the sequel has lined up.

No plot details for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 have been revealed yet, although it will involve the titular protagonist still spending more time with James Marsden’s Tom Wachowski and Taika Sumpter’s Maddie Wachowski, who welcomed the hedgehog into their family at the end of the first movie. That said, not only is Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik determined to return to Earth after being imprisoned on a mushroom planet, but Sonic the Hedgehog’s mid-credits scene showed Tails emerging from a ring portal to find Sonic. Between that, plus rumors of Knuckles the Echidna showing up, there are a lot of different directions Sonic 2 could go.

For now, Sonic the Hedgehog fans can take comfort knowing that the sequel is slated for an April 8, 2022 theatrical release, with Jeff Fowler reprising his directing duties, and Pat Casey and Josh Miller having written the screenplay. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is also using the working title Emerald Hill, which is a reference to the first level in the 1992 video game Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Obviously we’ll keep you apprised on how the sequel movie is coming along as more news trickles in.

In addition to Sonic the Hedgehog 2, 2022 will also see the release of an animated series called Sonic Prime on Netflix. So fans of this video game franchise has a lot to look forward to next year. Those of you more interested in what’s coming up in the near future are welcome to look through our 2021 release schedule.

Lena Khan’s Flora & Ulysses comes at a particularly good time, because many of us are already tuning into Disney+ to see the first Marvel Cinematic Universe TV show WandaVision. The family comedy revolves around a 10-year-old girl (Matilda Lawler) who befriends a squirrel with super powers. Because her dad (played by Sonic the Hedgehog’s Ben Schwartz) is a comic book writer, it has influenced the surroundings of their home and Flora’s own interests, leaving a ton of room for some fun easter eggs throughout the movie. How many did you catch?

The movie comes at an apt time, because the Disney movie not only pulled from the MCU, but aspects of Marvel Comics that are expected to be part of the Disney franchise in the near future, such as the X-Men and Fantastic Four. When CinemaBlend spoke to the director and cast of Flora & Ulysses, we talked about how all those little details made it into the movie.

How Marvel Made Its Way Into Flora & Ulysses

If you’re familiar with Kate DiCamillo’s Flora & Ulysses children’s book, you will know that Marvel was not originally part of the story itself. It’s something that was added to the narrative thanks to Disney’s riches of properties at play. Director Lena Khan explained how the decision to scatter it with easter eggs came about:

So the addition of these elements was intentionally done by the director to catch the eye of adults along with the kids watching the film. Over the years, Pixar has been known to feature a number of pop culture references that either piques the interest of older audiences or offers more of an interactive viewing experience. Flora & Ulysses does this not only with Marvel but through a Titanic statue Flora’s mother (played by Alyson Hannigan) keeps by her desk.

What Marvel Easter Eggs You Should Look Out For

There’s a ton of easter eggs to look for throughout the movie. Listen for the “Imperial March” doorbell noise to Flora’s house. This is perfect considering Ben Schwartz created the voice for Star Wars’ BB-8! Flora’s friend, William, also looks eerily like Daredevil with his red circular glasses (is it a Disney+ hint for the future of Matt Murdock?) It’s likely all in good fun. When I talked to Schwartz he also pointed out a few more. In his words:

Apparently, Alyson Hannigan’s past in pop culture also gets a shoutout too, with a Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic book behind her. Of course, Hannigan played Willow in the series way back when. Fans of the Ducktales reboot may also notice that four cast members from the series had a live-action reunion in Flora & Ulysses. Ben Schwartz (Flora’s dad) played Luey, the movie’s villain Danny Pudi was Huey, the comic shop owner Stanlee, Bobby Moynihan was Dewey and the waitress Rita, played by Kate Micucci was Webby. Moynihan’s name is another Marvel reference to Stan Lee and, during his first appearance, he is holding up a Ducktales comic book before saying Donald Duck’s iconic line, “oh boy.”

The Marvel References That Didn’t Make It Into Flora & Ulysses

When CinemaBlend spoke to director Lena Khan, she told us more about the process of getting the easter eggs into the movie itself. When asked about any conversations with Marvel, she said:

Khan expanded on some of the specific ideas she had for Flora & Ulysses that Marvel did not give her permission to add in. They were actually awesome:

Maybe they were a bit too on the nose? Either way, these references made for a fun aspect of the Disney+ movie. It's even inspired young Matilda Lawler to dive into that section of pop culture. As the young actress told us:

There's certainly a ton more of fun tidbits to look out for! Flora & Ulysses is streaming now over on Disney+ now.

The latest Disney+ original movie Flora & Ulysses adapts a modern classic children’s book about a girl and her squirrel, but it also cleverly has some pop culture pokes and nudges throughout to lean forward for. Fans of Disney XD’s Ducktales reboot may have caught on to a special reunion in Flora & Ulysses, as some cast members got to share the screen for the first time for the new release. I’m talking about Huey, Luey, Dewey and Webby’s voice talents in live-action: Danny Pudi, Ben Schwartz, Bobby Moynihan and Kate Micucci.

In Flora & Ulysses, Ben Schwartz gets to trade his more typical role behind the voice booth to play Flora’s father, who ventures alongside her for a fun adventure with a superpowered squirrel. Along the way, the characters meet three of Schwartz’s DuckTales’ co-stars. When speaking to CinemaBlend, Schwartz told us how it all came together:

It’s fitting since Flora & Ulysses follows the daughter of a comic book writer and avid reader of superheroes and everything else one can find at a comic book store. The Disney+ movie has audiences covered with some Marvel and DC references sprinkled throughout, but the Ducktales element is the perfect homage to Disney’s long-running comic book series featuring Uncle Scrooge, Donald Duck and their nephews Huey, Luey and Dewey, which was adapted in the late ‘80s in Ducktales and recently rebooted for Disney Channel. Schwartz continued:

SNL star Bobby Moynihan is even named “Stanlee” once again to go along with the comic book store tributes! If you missed it, check it out, this is one of the very first scenes in the movie:

It’s an awesome little detail within Flora & Ulysses that Ducktales fans like me geek out on, especially since it furthers the franchise’s hold on the young generation of today. The Ducktales reboot was recently announced to be ending after three seasons on the air. The show is set to conclude next month with a 90-minute finale called “The Last Adventure!” following three brand new episodes leading up to the conclusion on March 15. Flora & Ulysses’ director Lena Khan spoke about how having the Ducktales cast on set helped the film:

It’s a sweet element of Flora & Ulysses, aside from the film being a blast of a family film about a squirrel’s superhero origin story. Also joining Ben Schwartz is Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Alyson Hannigan, who plays Flora’s mother, a romance novelist without inspiration. Check out Flora & Ulysses on Disney+, streaming now.

It’s not easy to transition from television to the big screen, but there have been a number of actors who have made the leap in the past few years. Ben Schwartz, who fans may recognize as Jean-Ralphio Saperstein from Parks and Recreation, has seen quite a bit of success from playing the blue hedgehog himself in 2019’s Sonic the Hedgehog. Since the breakout box office performance of the video-game adaptation, Ben Schwartz has revisited the idea of campaigning for a DC Hero role.

In a recent interview, the actor mentioned that he is still interested in taking up the role of Plastic Man. As he put it:

He reiterated his desire to play the stretchy superhero in an interview with Nerdist, ahead of the release of his upcoming film, Flora & Ulysses. While he notes that a movie based on the character hasn’t happened yet, he’s still open to taking up the role. He also mentioned that he’s drawn to the character's signature comedy, which could work well on the big screen.

This isn’t the first time that Ben Schwartz has entertained the idea of playing Plastic Man. He’s been campaigning since 2018, when he first went to Twitter to seek out an application for the role. Almost a year later he made headlines for comparing plastic man to Marvel’s Deadpool. While Warner Bros. did hire Amanda Idoko to write a script based on the character, it’s been over two years since we’ve had an update on the project.

I wouldn’t count a Plastic Man movie out though, the fact that Warner Bros. has a script floating around means that the possibility is always there. While that doesn’t necessarily mean that Ben Schwartz will end up playing leading man Patrick Edward "Eel" O'Brian, he’s made a pretty strong case so far.

It’s hard to say exactly where Plastic Man would fit into the current DCEU. Warner could always go for an individual one-off movie, like they did with Joker, but who doesn’t want to be a part of a franchise these days?

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Plastic Man has made the shortlist of DC characters who will be appearing in the upcoming Zack Snyder’s Justice League. But, with a script floating around and Ben Schwartz’s continued interest, I wouldn’t call it a stretch to see him involved with the project at some point.

Apparently not every superhero story available on Disney+ is ripped from the pages of Marvel Comics. However, Squirrel Girl does have a few things in common with the heroic protagonist of the streaming platform’s latest original movie, which Alyson Hannigan stars in. The former How I Met Your Mother actress is not only member of the Flora & Ulysses cast you are bound to recognize.

Based on the Newbery Medal-winning novel by Kate DiCamillo from 2013, this family film from director Lena Khan follows a 10-year-old girl named Flora who is struggling to come to grips with her parents’ divorce. Her much-needed choice of escape is reading comic books about costumed avengers, which soon becomes a part of her reality in the unexpected form of a squirrel whom she names Ulysses. After discovering that her new furry, woodland friend has been gifted with superpowers, they then embark on adventures that, while rarely leaving the backyard, are nothing short of exciting.

Like most other films of that (technically) fall under the superhero genre, Flora & Ulysses, available to stream on Disney+ as of Friday, February 19, boasts a cast of many beloved A-listers and lesser known, promising talents alike. See if you can remember where you may have spotted some of its main performers in our breakdown of their best-known work up to this point, starting with its central (human) heroine.

Matilda Lawler (Flora Buckman) 

One-half of the titular duo in Flora & Ulysses is first leading role for Matilda Lawler. The young actress, who also made her Broadway debut at 10 years old in 2019’s production of The Ferryman, made her screen acting debut that same year on a Halloween episode of Evil - a hit supernatural crime procedural on CBS. She would revisit that genre in the 2020 sci-fi film The Block Island Sound and will again (but with far more grounded themes) when she plays Mackenzie Davis’ younger self in Station Eleven - an upcoming miniseries set in the midst of a worldwide pandemic.

John Kassir (Ulysses)

Providing the chirps and squeaks of Flora’s loyal, super-powered, furry friend Ulysses is John Kassir, whose voice you have surely heard in something, such as Disney’s live action 2016 remake of Pete’s Dragon (in which he played Elliot), animated series like Adventure Time (in which he played multiple roles), and video games such as the Final Fantasy franchise, to name only a handful. You may have also seen his face here and there on crime series like CSI: Miami or in a 2000 made-for-TV Three Stooges biopic in which he played Shemp. However, the actor’s most iconic role is The Crypt Keeper, whom he voiced for seven seasons on Tales from the Crypt and wherever else the character has appeared since.

Alyson Hannigan (Phyllis Buckman)

Long before playing Flora’s mother in Flora & Ulysses, Alyson Hannigan dealt a lot with beings much like the Crypt Keeper on Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Willow Rosenberg. Not long after the hit supernatural series’ end, the American Pie franchise star made comedy a more definable part of her career when she was cast as Lily Aldrin on How I Met Your Mother. Outside of hosting Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Hannigan has since kept her feet in both waters, appearing in the 2018 horror-comedy You Might Be the Killer, playing Kim Possible’s mother in a live action adaptation of the Disney Channel cartoon, and marrying Mira Sorvino in Dodie & Cheryl Get Hitched, which is now in pre-production.

Ben Schwartz (George Buckman)

It was Ben Schwartz who brought Sonic the Hedgehog to life in 2020’s big screen adaptation of the popular video game franchise, but he is experiencing a role reversal by starring opposite a CGI animal as a single father in Flora & Ulysses. The Emmy-winning comedian first gained mainstream appeal as fan-favorite recurring character Jean-Ralphio Saperstein on Parks and Recreation before becoming a series regular on the Don Cheadle-led Showtime dramedy House of Lies and lending his voice to the likes of Bob’s Burgers, Robot Chicken, and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He also found success on Netflix playing Rutabaga Rabitowitz Bojack Horseman, a media relations handler on Space Force, and collaborating with his improvisational comedy partner Thomas Middleditch on a trilogy of live specials.

Danny Pudi (Miller)

Ben Schwartz also plays Dewey on the latest DuckTales reboot, in which Huey is voiced by Danny Pudi - who is channeling the Darkest Timeline’s iteration of Abed Nadir to play the villain of Flora & Ulysses. After Community’s final curtain call in 2015, the Chicago-native would play an insurance agent at a company specializing in superhero-related accidents on Powerless, an unrecognizable alien in Star Trek Beyond, and has many more voice acting credits, including Disney Junior’s Mira, Royal Detective. This latest family film is his second collaboration with director Lena Khan after her 2016 feature-length debut The Tiger Hunter.

Kate Micucci (Rita)

Another DuckTales star appearing in Flora & Ulysses is Kate Micucci - also a prolific voice actress additionally known for playing Sadie in Steven Universe, Clayface in The LEGO Batman Movie, and Velma in several Scooby-Doo iterations for years. She has also cemented herself as one of the most acclaimed comedic voices of her generation as one-half of the folk parody duo Garfunkel and Oates and acclaimed films such as Don’t Think Twice. You might have also seen in her recurring roles on sitcoms such as The Big Bang Theory and Raising Hope and with her Flora & Ulysses co-star Alyson Hannigan on a Season 2 How I Met Your Mother cameo.

Bobby Moynihan (Stanlee)

Believe it or not, there is a fourth DuckTales veteran in the cast of Flora & Ulysses: Bobby Moynihan, who first followed up nine years on Saturday Night Live with the short-lived sitcom Me, Myself, and I in 2017. However, he at least got to be a part of the Star Wars universe with multiple voice roles in multiple related projects, unlike his The Book of Henry director and friend Colin Trevorrow. More recently, the actor plays the titular weed-dealing manatee of the animated series Loafy, plays the communications director for Ted Danson on Mr. Mayor, and will star as Paul Revere in the upcoming musical comedy America: The Motion Picture.

Anna Deavere Smith (Mrs. Meescham)

Actress, writer, and producer Anna Deavere Smith has never voiced a role on DuckTales, but has been in many political dramas, on both the big screen (Dave and The American President) and the small screen (The West Wing and Madam Secretary). The Flora & Ulysses star has also delved into medical TV shows like Nurse Jackie, a few legal dramas (most recently For the People), sitcoms like Black-ish, and even an episode of the Arrowverse hit Legends of Tomorrow in 2016. Her other notable film credits include the Academy Award-winning Tom Hanks drama Philadelphia, director Peter Berg’s 2007 thriller The Kingdom, and, more recently, Can You Ever Forgive Me? opposite Melissa McCarthy.

Nancy Robertson (Tootie Tickham)

Before Flora & Ulysses, the last time Nancy Robertson starred in a Disney-produced adaptation of a beloved children’s novel was in 2010’s Ramona and Beezus, starring Selena Gomez and Joey King as Beverly Clearly’s iconic sibling duo. The Canadian actress is best known as Wanda Dollard on Corner Gas, one of the most popular sitcoms originating from the Great White North (also created by and starring her husband Brent Butt) that has since spawned a movie and animated reboot - both of which she reprised her role for. She also recently lent her voice to The Willoughbys, a hit animated film released exclusively to Netflix in 2020.

Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (William Spiver)

Before Flora & Ulysses, the last time Benjamin Evan Ainsworth teamed up with a character named Flora was in The Haunting of Bly Manor, Mike Flanagan’s Henry James-inspired follow-up to his Haunting of Hill House miniseries on Netflix. The young British actor only has two other credits to his name at the moment, including an episode of the long-running U.K.-based soap opera Emmerdale Farm in 2018 and the Italian-produced short film The Recycling Man, in which he plays a wheelchair bound boy desperate to save a young woman from the titular villain in a dystopian society.

Emma Oliver (Six-Year-Old Flora)

We also meet Matilda Lawler’s character at a younger age, played by Emma Oliver, who started acting at 5-years-old and, two years, is already one of the busiest child stars of her generation. She made her debut on the recent revival of The X-FIles, followed by playing a younger version of Alexandra Breckenridge’s character on Virgin River and landing a part on Supernatural’s final season in 2020. Flora & Ulysses is also Oliver’s second time working with Ben Schwartz after a brief role in Sonic the Hedgehog, but you can also see her on TNT’s series adaptation of Snowpiercer as Winnie.

It is not always that you see a smaller family film based on a children’s novel with jam-packed with prime talent. Yet, Flora & Ulysses revels in its is star-studded cast, as you can see from the list above. If you have already had the pleasure of streaming Flora & Ulysses, who do you believe gave the best performance?

This poll is no longer available.

The time has come for Disney+ to finally release another fun-filled family adventure, this time starring none other than Sonic the Hedgehog’s Ben Schwartz and How I Met Your Mother’s Alyson Hannigan, along with relative newcomer Matilda Lawler. The new movie Flora & Ulysses is based on the popular children’s novel by Kate DiCamillo and will be another live action venture from the House of Mouse. Now, we are finally getting an idea of what that will look like with the first trailer for the film.

As you can see, Matilda Lawler’s Flora is a young girl who loves comics and adventure. So when a squirrel who seems to have certain powers ends up in her midst, the two end up being a very good team, helping Flora to navigate the waters of complicated familial relationships. With an animal control employee (played by Danny Pudi) on Ulysses' furry tail, the two are about to go on an unforgettable adventure.

Why Flora & Ulysses Is Heading To Disney+

While some flicks like Mulan and Artemis Fowl were created for the big screen and later pushed to Disney+, Flora & Ulysses is unique in that it was created with the subscription streaming service in mind. One of the reasons the company chose the film for Disney+ was its focus on family viewings. Associate Producer Jennie Lee candidly told us why Flora & Ulysses the hopes the team has for the film's Disney+ release and why the streamer seemed like a good fit. (Note: When CinemaBlend spoke to her on the set of the film, this was pre-pandemic, so it should be noted that any theatrical issues that have cropped up in 2020 were not an issue at the time.)

If only she'd known how prescient that "you're at home" comment would be. Speaking of pitching, creating, producing, or acting in a movie that had very different aims than a splashy theatrical release might, lead Ben Schwartz did says the film will fit in with what Disney is trying to bring to its fanbase in multiple forums. Per the actor, that Disney magic will still be there:

Disney+’s Flora & Ulysses Is Also Going For ‘Pixar in Live Action’

So, why live action for Flora & Ulysses? One thing CinemaBlend heard over and over on the set for the Disney+ film was that the team behind the new movie was really looking forward to tying in the Pixar aesthetic and emotionality with the realism of live action. The director of the film, Lena Khan, talked about how she really worked to make sure there’s enough in the new film to interest and appeal to adults, mentioning Toy Story and its jokes that are “clearly not for children” as an influence, also elaborating:

So, what does Pixar in live action mean? While I suppose technically Ulysses himself is a CGI squirrel and thus a little more cartoon-y than the other characters, in general Lena Khan wants people to feel that the subjects are moving and feel "grounded" to help the film resonate with a lot of different types of people at different stages in their lives.

When it hits the schedule, Flora & Ulysses will be nestled in between new Marvel TV shows WandaVision and Falcon and the Winter Soldier in the Disney+ schedule, officially hitting the streaming service on February 19. In the meantime, the book is already available if you haven’t checked it out yet.

Fans of Netflix’s Space Force have a lot to celebrate, as the show has officially been renewed for Season 2 by the streamer. The Steve Carell-led sci-fi series managed to earn the much-sought-after second season, which has become somewhat difficult for many of Netflix’s recent freshman shows to get. While viewers are likely excited about the renewal, the stars of the show also seemed to be excited. Ben Schwartz, Diana Silvers and some of their colleagues have taken to social media to mark the occasion.

Ben Schwartz, who plays Space Force social media director F. Tony Scarapiducci, posted his reaction to the show’s renewal with a short but completely on-brand response to the renewal. Check it out below:

Space Force star Diana Silvers also took to social media to chime in on the renewal, and it sounds like she’s more than ready for some more space shenanigans with her castmates. And who could blame her, with Steve Carell playing her father:

Schwartz and Silvers were joined in celebrating the achievement by Tawny Newsome, who plays trailblazing astronaut Angela Ali on the show. And like Schwartz, she provided a brief message:

Space Force’s own Jimmy O. Yang (a.k.a. Dr. Chan Kaifang) voiced his excitement about the new season on Instagram. In his post, not only did he hype up the news, but he also delivered some exciting news about the upcoming set of episodes:

So it looks like Jimmy O. Yang is about to take on a major role behind the camera for Space Force Season 2, as he’ll also serve as a writer this time around. You can’t help but be excited for him, and it’ll be fun to see what he brings to the show with his voice.

When Space Force first debuted, the show was met with relatively mixed reviews, though the series has since managed to build a loyal fanbase. During its journey to secure a second season, the show also had to deal with an unexpected issue when the U.S. Government took issue with the show having trademarked the name Space Force. This all came around the same time that the U.S. was about to do the same for its own Space Force.

Even though the show has only just now been renewed for Season 2, stars like Ben Schwartz have already been quite vocal about what they want for their characters moving forward. He wants his “grounded” Scarapiducci to continue to grow and hopes to further differentiate him from his Parks and Rec character, Jean-Ralphio Saperstein.

It’s far too early to tell what’s being planned for the second season of Space Force, but there’s a good chance the producers have some big things planned for these characters. We’ll see how things pan out when the season arrives.

Space Force is currently available to stream on Netflix.

It’s no secret that movies based on video games haven’t had the best track record over the years, but earlier this year, Sonic the Hedgehog managed to become one of the few successes in that realm. As a result, Paramount Pictures officially gave the green light to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 a few months back, and now the plan is to deliver the sequel by April 8, 2022.

To commemorate Sonic the Hedgehog 2 receiving a release date, Ben Schwartz, the voice of Sega’s super speedy protagonist, shared an amusing Twitter video concerning some Sonic advertising he passed by one time at an airport. Check it out:

Wow, that is one long hallway! Was Ben Schwartz caught in a Palm Springs-style time loop? No, he was just somewhere deep within LAX where the Sonic the Hedgehog advertising on the wall never… seemed… to end. Schwartz even had to move his camera a few times to allow people to pass by him on the moving walkway before pointing back at those lengthy banners showing off Sonic himself and his nemesis, Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik.

Now that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is on the calendar, Paramount needs to step up its LAX advertising game for the sequel. In other words, the studio needs to find an even longer hallway within that airport for not just more banners, but banners that advertise more than two characters. Of course, then Ben Schwartz will need to track down those banners and shoot an even longer video next to them, but at least then the Sonic franchise would have a new marketing tradition.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s release date was announced last week as Paramount reshuffled some of its upcoming movies, which included moving both A Quiet Place: Part II and Top Gun: Maverick to next year. Whether or not Sonic 2 will hold onto that April slot or if it’ll be pushed back at some point, Paramount is clearly keen on keeping the eponymous character’s cinematic journey going. Still, with the way things are in the world are right now, one shouldn’t expect the sequel to begin filming anytime soon.

Along with Ben Schwartz and Jim Carrey, Sonic the Hedgehog’s cast included James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Lee Majdoub, Natasha Rothwell, Melody Nosipho, Adam Pally and Neal McDonough. Critically speaking, Sonic was met with mixed-to-positive critical reception, ranking at 63% among professional critics on Rotten Tomatoes, while the audience score is an impressive 93%.

As for commercially, while the current health crisis cut short Sonic the Hedgehog’s full theatrical run, it still managed to collect over $306 million worldwide, and now ranks as the highest-grossing film adaptation of a video game of all time domestically (last year’s Detective Pikachu still holds the worldwide record in that category). Sonic is also the second highest-grossing movie of 2020 due to the lack of new theatrical releases since mid-March, with Bad Boys for Life taking the #1 spot.

Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on Sonic the Hedgehog 2 as they trickle in, and don’t forget to scan through our 2020 release schedule to learn what movies are supposed to come out late this year.

Throughout the ten-episode first season of Netflix's Space Force, Steve Carell's put-upon military leader Mark Naird deals with a smorgasbord of frustrations, complications and miscommunications. For the most part, all three of those could be applied to his relationship with his media manager "Fuck Tony Scarapiducci, as played with kinetic energy by Ben Schwartz. While F. Tony is clearly built for laughs as a spin-driven parody of real world White House communications directors, that doesn't mean he can't evolve in some ways if Space Force gets renewed for Season 2.

In fact, Ben Schwartz wants to see a few particular things happen with F. Tony if Netflix makes the decision to renew Space Force for a second season. Speaking with TV Guide, the former Parks and Recreation actor name-checked his standout character in talking out hopes for F. Tony's characterization in the future.

Considering Space Force co-creator Greg Daniels was also the co-creator of Parks and Recreation, he clearly knows a thing or two about how to utilize Ben Schwartz's infectious comedy energy. Admittedly, that energy does create performances that are more over-the-top than grounded and nuanced, but Schwartz is definitely capable of scaling it back and introducing more layers. Assuming that's what Daniels & Co. would want to expand on with F. Tony, of course.

Ben Schwartz's pitch is a pretty solid idea in my mind. Because the character seemingly breezes through life without obviously reflecting on much about his personal life away from his Space Force-related duties, it presents the opportunity to go in tons of different directions with those kinds of details. It would be wild to dig into F. Tony's past and see that he had a mother that acted (and maybe looked) just like John Malkovich's Adrian Mallory, and a father who acted (and maybe looked) just like Steve Carell's Mark; and that he's just blind to seeing how his current gig is a big reflection of his youth. (Not that F. Tony couldn't have two fathers, obviously.)

In any case, it's much easier to think about F. Tony having an interesting past than to consider him being overtly and objectively great at his job, considering all of the decisions he made in Season 1. Clearly, he had F. Tony's interests in mind most of the time, as opposed to Mark's. But if Space Force does come back for Season 2 and beyond, it just gives Ben Schwartz's character that much more room to grow into an incredible media manager, even if he sometimes fools himself into thinking he earned that distinction already.

For all that I agree that F. Tony should be on a separate character plane from Parks and Recreation's Jean-Ralphio Saperstein, I can't be alone in thinking it would be amazing if Space Force introduced Jenny Slate as F. Tony's outgoing twin sister, similar to her Mona-Lisa Saperstein Parks and Rec role. That might not be the kind of layer that Ben Schwartz was talking about, but it wouldn't be "the wo-o-o-o-rst" idea.

Having split critics and audiences down the middle, Space Force Season 1 is available to stream in full on Netflix right now. While waiting to hear updates about Season 2's chances, check out all the other shows we know are coming to the streaming service with our 2020 Netflix TV schedule, as well as bookmarking our Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 premiere schedules.

Space Force brought together a star-studded cast for a new take on a workplace comedy, with a motley crew tasked with creating the sixth branch of the US Armed Forces with the goal of complete space dominance. Ben Schwartz, arguably best known on the small screen for his bonkers performance as Jean-Ralphio on Parks and Recreation, played a different kind of crazy for Space Force. According to Schwartz, playing a different kind of character was a priority.

Ben Schwartz played a media manager by the name of F. Tony Scarapiducci, as a pretty thinly-veiled allusion to splashy former White House Communications Director Tony Scaramucci. Speaking with Collider about Space Force, Schwartz explained that the goal for the character going all the way back to the audition was "to make sure that this character was not Jean-Ralphio," then said this about his character in a potential Season 2:

Space Force's F. Tony Scarapiducci is visibly a different character from Jean-Ralphio, from his more professional wardrobe to his more controlled hair. Scarapiducci is overconfident and ridiculous, but not -- as Ben Schwartz points out -- in a way that could be defined as the early stages of Muppet development. He's definitely not Jean-Ralphio 2.0.

That said, Ben Schwartz's aim for a character who is not Jean-Ralphio is understandable. While he has appeared on a variety of shows, Schwartz may be most recognizable for his Parks and Rec character, which he recently reprised for the special reunion episode. When viewers saw Schwartz attached to the project, their minds might have jumped to the NBC series.

There's also the point that Parks and Recreation co-creator Greg Daniels also co-created Space Force with Steve Carell, so Scarapiducci of Space Force could have ended up quite similar to Jean-Ralphio of Parks and Rec. As it turns out, both characters are funny and over-the-top, but they're definitely not interchangeable. The same is truth with former The Office star Steve Carell, whose Space Force character definitely isn't Michael Scott 2.0.

In case you haven't checked it out yet, Netflix's Space Force follows four-star general Mark Naird (Steve Carell) who finds himself in charge of the Space Force branch of the Armed Forces. He assembles a team at a remote Colorado base to try and get Americans into space for total space dominance. Along with Steve Carell and Ben Schwartz, Space Force stars John Malkovich, Lisa Kudrow, Jimmy O. Yang, the late Fred Willard, Jane Lynch, Roy Wood Jr., Noah Emmerich, and more.

The first ten episodes of Space Force with Ben Schwartz are available streaming on Netflix now. The streamer hasn't announced a renewal or a cancellation at this point, but Greg Daniels dropped some pretty hopeful comments that Space Force could be back with more. For some viewing options now and in the not-too-distant future, be sure to check out our 2020 Netflix premiere guide and our 2020 summer premiere schedule.

While Don Cheadle is widely known for his performance as the straight-laced, responsible James Rhodes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he seems to have a pretty good sense of humor in real life. Lately, while he's on pause from suiting up as War Machine, he’s been messing with Sonic the Hedgehog star Ben Schwartz on social media.

When Ben Schwartz shared a post of himself appearing in the print edition of The Washington Post, Don Cheadle pounced on social media, commenting on it in a pretty hilarious way. Check it out:

First off, this isn’t some random drop-in by Don Cheadle to an absolute stranger. For those who don’t know, Don Cheadle and Ben Schwartz have worked together on the show House of Lies. On the show, Cheadle played the main character, Marty Kaan, a management consultant who uses mind tricks on potential clients to get them to do what he wants. Ben Schwartz played Clyde Oberholt, who originally was one of Marty Kaan’s consultants. So, yeah, they have a history.

Secondly, Escape at Dannemora is a Showtime limited series directed by Ben Stiller that’s received rave reviews from critics, but got plenty of hate from Joyce “Tilly” Mitchell, whom the show is about. Clearly Don Cheadle is making a little joke here, mistaking Ben Schwartz for Ben Stiller. But the fun didn’t stop here. Don Cheadle kept it going:

Typically the situation would be the other way around with Ben Schwartz cracking the jokes. He is well-known for being a comedian, especially with roles like Clyde Oberholt on House of Cards and Jean-Ralphio on Parks and Recreation. Of course, you can easily tell in the tweets that Ben Schwartz is playing along with the gag.

Later in this thread of Don Cheadle confusing Ben Schwartz with Ben Stiller, the Zoolander star gets in on the fun and tries to help the situation, but obviously isn’t doing Schwartz any favors. Check it out:

Funny man Ben Schwartz has been riding high recently with the success of Sonic the Hedgehog. He played the titular character and now it looks like he’ll be returning as the blue speed demon, as it was recently confirmed that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is happening over at Paramount Pictures. Which is good news for Ben Schwartz, who fought hard to play the role, saying it was a long process and that he really wanted it.

With Don Cheadle hopping into the cartoon game with Space Jam 2 and his hilarious chemistry with Ben Schwartz, maybe they need to team up again, but this time on the silver screen? I could totally see Don Cheadle voicing Knuckles, just saying. If they two decide to team up for a movie, we here at CinemaBlend will let you know.

If you travelled back to around the time the first trailers for Sonic The Hedgehog dropped onto the internet, and told someone that not only would the design be changed, but the film would go on to become a box office record breaker, you’d probably get a lot of laughs from the room. But with the film’s success is on the books, despite losing out on even greater success, now’s as good a time as any to dig into some behind the scenes facts about how this film became what it is today. So let's not waste any time, and jump into the things you might not have known about Sonic The Hedgehog.

Sonic The Hedgehog Took A Long Time To Get Into Theaters

When the film was originally announced in 2014, Sonic The Hedgehog was going to be a 2016 release through the auspices of Sony Pictures. However, we wouldn’t see the famous blue blur on the big screen until almost four years after his initial target date.

On top of the various delays and a change of studio to Paramount Pictures, Sonic The Hedgehog also found itself at the center of some piping hot backlash against the initial design of the character. Six years isn’t the longest wait people have had to endure for a film, but it’s still pretty long

The Redesigned Sonic The Hedgehog Was Closer To What Ben Schwartz Had Always Imagined

The subject of that infamous designing crisis wasn’t going to avoid mention in our behind the scenes roundup for Sonic The Hedgehog facts. However, it’s a more positive context that sees us discussing how, thanks to the internet outrage pertaining to that controversial design, the new result was something people could get behind.

Perhaps the biggest fan of the revamp to Sonic’s look was the man who gave him his voice, actor Ben Schwartz. In fact, as he discussed the particulars with our ReelBlend podcast, Schwartz told the hosts that the final design was basically the character he’d imagined while recording the voice over.

A Lot Of Talent From The Sonic The Hedgehog Games Worked On The Movie

From step one, Sonic The Hedgehog was being shepherded by some top tier talent that had given Sonic and his friends their looks for some time. Animation studio Marza Animation Planet, who have worked on several Sonic games since has worked on several Sonic games, and came in as the animation studio for Sonic The Hedgehog.

Funny enough, director Jeff Fowler mentioned on his director’s commentary that he had some background in the past eras of Sonic The Hedgehog game history as well. As a visual effects artist, Fowler actually worked on the cinematics for the game Shadow The Hedgehog, giving the director his first brush with Sonic style controversy, and a good line of communication with Sega throughout the film’s process.

Three Different MCU Stars Were Being Considered As Sonic The Hedgehog’s Tom

Casting processes for a film like Sonic The Hedgehog are almost always the best place for behind the scenes details. Nowhere is this more true than the run up to the finalized casting of James Marsden as Sheriff Tom Wachowski, a role that almost went to not one, but three different MCU vets.

In the late stages of casting, right before Marsden was announced as the winner, Ant-Man’s Paul Rudd was tipped as being considered for sheriff’s duty in Green Hills, Montana. But even earlier than that, there was concept art mocked up for not only Captain America’s Chris Evans, but also Guardians of the Galaxy’s Chris Pratt filling the role. That last possibility is rather funny, as Chris Pratt could have been the Star Lord as well as the Donut Lord.

Sonic Could Have Also Been Voiced By Some Marvel Studios Stars As Well

The powers that be must have really been into Paul Rudd, as the casting list for both Tom and Sonic had Rudd listed as a prospect on the short list. But in another surprising move, Spider-Man: Far From Home’s Tom Holland was actually tipped as the potential voice to Sonic The Hedgehog’s lead as well.

Other non-MCU actors that were being considered for the role were Adam Devine, Bill Hader, Josh Gad, and Jim Parsons; among others. But, as history shook out, Ben Schwartz won the role, which in and of itself was a moment that happened thanks to Schwartz being at the right place, at the right time.

A Meeting For Another Project With Tim Miller Landed Ben Schwartz The Sonic Lead

Another gem on the seriously impressive commentary track to Sonic The Hedgehog came from Ben Schwartz and Jeff Fowler remembering how the actor landed the role in the long run. It all happened thanks to a meeting with Deadpool and Terminator: Dark Fate director Tim Miller, who was meeting with the Parks and Recreation actor for another project.

During this meeting, Fowler was also present, and a Sonic The Hedgehog toy that just happened to be in the office got Ben Schwartz’s geek muscles flexing. Miller suggested that he speak with Jeff Fowler, as he felt he could be perfect for Sonic, and the rest was speedy history. With Schwartz on board for the film’s pitch reel, the project would be then be shopped around.

A Totally Different Villain Was Drawn Up, But Never Used, In Sonic The Hedgehog

Here’s another interesting piece of Sonic The Hedgehog history: from the looks of some further concept art that was unearthed, it seems like another antagonist was drawn up for potential use in the film.

Much as that Chris Evans art was dug up on Twitter, another intriguing piece of concept art unveiled a reptilian baddie found its way to that very same platform. More intriguing is the fact that, based on the designs present, it looks like this unnamed villain has a staff with a Chaos Emerald embedded in the head. Oh, what could have been.

Sonic The Hedgehog’s Opening Chase Has A Very Sneaky Reference To Sega History

Easter eggs are like life: if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you’ll miss them totally. Thankfully, the pause button and big Twitter watch parties with Sonic The Hedgehog talent help highlight some of the secrets that aren’t so clear in the blurred action a blockbuster such as this one provides.

During a recent watch party, director Jeff Fowler pointed out that, among the streets Sonic blazes past in the opening, the street sign for one Mega Drive is present. The name for the Sega Genesis console in international markets, it’s only another sign as to how deep in the paint the Sonic The Hedgehog team was about their fandom.

Longclaw, Sonic’s Caretaker, Is More Than Likely Dead

We have some bad news for those of who that thought young Sonic’s caretaker, the wise owl Longclaw, might be lingering on the idyllic home planet we saw at the beginning of Sonic The Hedgehog. There’s a very good chance that she succumbed to her injuries at the hands of some vicious Echidnas at the beginning of the film; and in the absence of a visible death, a deleted scene helps flesh out that point.

Alternatively, Longclaw actually made it to Earth alongside Baby Sonic, which would have changed the story about Sonic’s loneliness to a certain extent. Though, as seen in the alternate scene included with Sonic The Hedgehog’s home video release, Longclaw actually died of old age by time that decade passes between those events and the present day. So unless something different is said in Sonic The Hedgehog 2, there’s a good chance we’ve seen the last of this kindly guardian.

The MPA Had An Interesting, If Not Inconsistent Note For Sonic The Hedgehog’s Script

Here’s a fun fact: apparently, you can’t say ‘Badass’ in a PG movie. At least, that’s what the MPA decided on the matter, according to Sonic The Hedgehog co-writer Pat Casey. With Sonic naming himself and Sheriff Tom Wachowski “a couple of badasses” in a previous draft, this scene was altered at the behest of the infamous ratings board.

However, as pointed out in a subtweet to Casey’s watch party commentary, the PG rated film Paul Blart: Mall Cop totally used the word “badass” in its finished product. Something that surprised even Casey himself, as that fact was news to him during the recent group viewing of Sonic The Hedgehog.

Jim Carrey’s Classic Brand Of Comedy Was A Huge Influence To The Film

There’s a lot of Jim Carrey magic on display in Sonic The Hedgehog, and for the most part, that’s thanks to the man himself playing the evil Dr. Robotnik. Between classic line reads that invoke Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and the rubber bodied shenanigans the comedian got into with his antagonistic role, you could feel the freedom granted to Carrey to bring his special magic to the table.

However, even Ben Schwartz invoked some of that magic, as his line reading for “There’s a fish on my head!” was inspired by Jim Carrey’s Dumb and Dumber line, “Our pet’s heads are falling off!” Sometimes, all it takes is the right casting and the best movie memories to tie everything together in the right way.

We hope that whether you knew these behind the scenes facts about Sonic The Hedgehog or not, you enjoy the film regardless. As it’s currently available on Digital HD, with the 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD release coming on May 19th, it’s easier than ever to enjoy the Sonic magic for yourself, in the comfort of your own home.

Sonic the Hedgehog proved to be a box office hit, despite the public’s mixed relationship with big-screen, video game adaptations. There are a few elements that can be attributed to the film’s success, but many would argue that its biggest draw is Jim Carrey, who played the comedically villainous Dr. Robotnik.

Jim Carrey was a vital addition for a film that audiences had low expectations for and, in the end, it worked out in Paramount’s favor. Ben Schwartz, the actor behind the furry, blue speedster, is well aware of how important it was for Sonic the Hedgehog to have Carrey, and he could only sing his praises when he spoke with our own ReelBlend podcast. You can listen to the conversation down below:

During the chat, Ben Schwartz stressed just how lucky he and the rest of the cast and crew were to have Jim Carrey sign on for Sonic the Hedgehog. What made things even better was that Carrey had resolved to lean into his classic brand of comedy for the role:

Because Schwartz’s voicework wasn’t performed until post-production, he was unable to actually watch Jim Carrey work on set. So he was more than excited when he finally got to watch Carrey’s performance in its entirety in the cinema:

What’s most exciting to Ben Schwartz, however, is the prospect of Sonic the Hedgehog introducing a new generation of moviegoers to Jim Carrey:

It’s hard not to marvel at the work of someone like Jim Carrey, as a filmography like his is pretty hard to top. Robotnik only adds to the colorful array of roles he’s played, and the actor had more than a few memorable moments as the mad genius. I mean how do you top that dance sequence?

Sonic the Hedgehog is now available on Digital HD and will be released on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD on May 19.

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After the last few weeks, the once disastrous ordeal of the Sonic the Hedgehog redesign is looking like one of the more adorable fiascos in Hollywood. It’s more-so a Rocky-esque training montage that has an uplifting energy to it considering how successful the movie ended up being. And Ben Schwartz, the voice of Sonic, has a positive attitude about the whole thing too.

Ben Schwartz recently stopped by CinemaBlend's ReelBlend podcast for a special bonus episode, where the actor hung out with the host for over an hour to talk about Sonic the Hedgehog, of course, as well as his roles in Star Wars, Parks and Recreation and The Simpsons. During the exclusive interview, Schwartz opened up about what happened with the original Sonic design that went viral, and resulted in the character’s look being changed and shifting the movie from November 2019 to February 2020. In his words:

As Ben Schwartz explains, he found the reaction to be a positive one because he thought of it as fans showing a real passion for the movie. In the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog, the Sega character had smaller eyes, human-looking teeth and long skinny legs that fans just couldn’t look away from. It became somewhat of a meme being passed around and laughed at. But on the flip side, fans also were voicing their concerns, with some artists even taking it upon themselves to fix things up.

Director Jeff Fowler listened to their concerns and announced Sonic the Hedgehog would go back into production in order to make things right. When asked about why the character design looked the way it did in the first place, here’s what Ben Schwartz told ReelBlend:

Let’s hope we never see what Mickey Mouse or Spongebob would look in the “real world,” because yikes! But hey, Sonic’s not the only character that dealt with backlash over its CGI vision. So did Tom Hooper’s Cats – except in that case fans are campaigning for more nightmarish images to be a part of it.

Going back to Ben Schwartz, you can check out his full interview with ReelBlend right here:

Sonic the Hedgehog opened back in February to a record-breaking $58 million opening and went on to make $306 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing video game movie domestically. If it had just a little more time in theaters, it might have beaten the worldwide record too. The movie is currently available to purchase on digital early following Paramount’s recent announcement to bring it to homes due to recent current events.

We’ll take any excuse to talk with Ben Schwartz. The razor-sharp comedian has bene entertaining us for years, either as part of NBC’s Parks and Rec or his various improv projects, to his latest role of Sonic in the Paramount Pictures hit Sonic the Hedgehog. With that movie hitting digital and available to rent, ReelBlend asked Schwartz to hop on Skype for a quick chat.

It turned into a 90 minute conversation that spun all around Sonic, Star Wars, The Simpsons, Jean-Ralphio, fan influence on Hollywood properties, his voice-acting abilities and so much more.

You have to give this one a listen!

Sonic the Hedgehog ended up being a surprising win for Paramount. The movie was dogged by “controversy” early on because fans weren’t into the initial design of the lead character. Ben Schwartz talks to us about that redesign effort, and his opinion on the original look, and the updated look.

He also weighs in on collaborating with Jim Carrey, his reactions to the movie’s record-setting opening weekend, his love of video games, and more.

But we didn’t keep it to Sonic. Schwartz wouldn’t let us. He taught us a fun new game (which we played on the spot). He talked about his upcoming Netflix projects. And we all shared pop-culture stories from our time in the entertainment industry. This is exactly the type of interview that ReelBlend was meant to host. We hope that you enjoy it!

Be sure to subscribe to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts, including YouTube!