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Sonic the Hedgehog 2's Knuckles Isn't 'Sexy', According to Idris Elba


When Idris Elba was recently confirmed to be voicing the fan-favorite Sonic character Knuckles in the upcoming movie sequel 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2', one word we never thought we'd associate with this casting is 'sexy'.

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However, according to the actor, it's the one word that won't be used to describe the character's voice in the film. Knuckles has been a fan-favorite since he was first introduced in the 1994 video game 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3', in which he portrays a villain-of-sorts after he's manipulated by Sonic's arch-nemesis Dr. Robotnik.

It remains to be seen what kind of role the red echidna will have in the new movie, however, it's likely the sequel will take inspiration from the aforementioned game, especially with Tails also set to be reprising his role, who made his cinematic debut at the end of the first film.

Idris Elba is known for his distinct voice, so it came as no surprise - though much delight - to fans when he was cast into the role. But the actor has finally shed some light on the character to whom he'll be lending his gruff vocal chords.

Elba was recently interviewed by ScreenRant, and when asked about his role in the new movie, the actor said the following: "Honestly, I cannot say. Contractually, I cannot say anything. But I wouldn't say he was sexy. I don't think I'm going for that. That's for sure."

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This is undoubtedly a joke on Elba's part, as the red echidna isn't considered sexy (though we're pretty sure there are some fans out there who would disagree, as he is a beloved character, after all). But it still leaves us feeling curious as to how the veteran actor will portray this 'anti-hero'.

In the video game lore, Knuckles, a red echidna, is the Guardian of the Master Emerald - which is related to the seven Chaos Emeralds (think of them as Sonic the Hedgehog's answer to the 'Marvel Cinematic Universe's Infinity Stones).

As such, these stones will likely feature in the new movie, though the filmmakers may wish to keep things simple for the time being and avoid any concept of a more 'galactic' nature until the franchise has a few sequels under its belt.

Exactly how much Knuckles will appear in the film is also unknown, but with an actor like Elba taking on the role, it's unlikely it will be a cameo or small role in any way, shape, or form. Elba has appeared in multiple blockbusters over the years, with the most recent being 'The Suicide Squad'.

Related: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Movie Release Date, Cast, Villain, Trailer, Knuckles, Tails, Jim Carrey, Updates, News, and Everything You Need to Know

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Nevertheless, we can't wait to see what Idris Elba - who is no stranger to lending his voice to CG characters - brings to Knuckles in the upcoming 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2'. Actor Ben Schwartz will be reprising his role as the 'blue blur', while the voice actor for his sidekick Tails is yet to be announced.

Other returning actors are James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Adam Pally, Natasha Rothwell, Lee Majdoub, and Jim Carrey, who will be reprising their roles as Tom Wachowski, Maddie Wachowski, Wade Whipple, Rachel, Agent Stone, and Dr. Robotnik, respectively.

The film hits theaters on April 8, 2022, and if it's anything like its 2020 predecessor, it will pick up a lot of gold rings on its release.

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