Video games are difficult to adapt to the big screen. Sonic The Hedgehog was no different and at one point seemed doomed from the original backlash at the character’s appearance. The company went in and made the necessary changes and are currently reaping the benefits with a strong opening weekend setting it apart from other video game adaptions! Joining such an adaption can always be a risk, but Sonic voice actor Ben Schwartz craved the role.
Although I always see him as Jean-Ralphio from Parks and Recreation, he is also known for his voice-overs in other works such as DuckTales (Dewey), Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Leonardo) and The Simpsons to name a few. Schwartz spoke to CinemaBlend and admitted that he is a man of nostalgia and seeks out roles that he loved as a 90s kid!
“It is very much so [by intention] in that all these things were things I cared about growing up. I watched Disney afternoon, I’d watch Turtles. I played video games, I played Genesis, I played Super Nintendo. All these things are things that made me the person I am today. It’s all my likes — all the things that make me creative…I was going after the ones where I was like, ‘Oh, man, if I could be the person that ushers a new generation into this type of material, it would make me so happy.’”
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If I were in his shoes I would definitely do the same thing. What better way to revisit your childhood than by playing/voicing those characters you grew up with?! Schwartz sees it as a way of paying it forward. His hope is that when Sonic is eventually rebooted 30 years from now (or quicker in this day and age) that the voice actor who takes over maybe saw this film, played the game and sought out the role so they could continue their love for the character as he did.
Sonic The Hedgehog has been a surprising success to some and looks to continue the trend. Have you seen the film yet? What did you think? Was it better than expected? What other video game franchises do you hope can make the successful jump to the big screen (I have wanted a Legend of Zelda film since I first played the game…)? Do you think Ben Schwartz was the perfect Sonic? Leave your thoughts in the usual spot, and thanks for reading!
Sonic The Hedgehog is in theaters now.
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SOURCE: CinemaBlend
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