Exclusive: Aubrey Plaza Eyed For Sonic 3 Villain
We've learned that the filmmakers behind Sonic the Hedgehog 3 want Aubrey Plaza to play the threequel's villain.
Jim Carrey may not return for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but Dr. Robotnik isn’t the only bad guy in town. Our trusted and proven sources tell us that Aubrey Plaza is the filmmakers’ top choice to play a villain in Sonic 3. While no details about the plot have been revealed yet, the success of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 assured a third entry, and it’s currently scheduled to hit theaters December 20, 2024.
We don’t know if Aubrey Plaza is being courted to play the chief antagonist of Sonic 3 but that could very well be the case. Jim Carrey has made public his intentions of retiring from acting, and speaking to MovieWeb last April, producers Troy Ascher and Neal Mortiz said they “wouldn’t even try” to recast the role of Dr. Robotnik. They also expressed their hope that they could convince Carrey to change his mind and return for at least one more chapter of Sonic.
As for exactly what role Aubrey Plaza may soon be offered, we don’t know for sure, but the most likely candidate would seem to be the flirtatious and mysterious Rouge the Bat. First appearing in the 2001 game Sonic Adventure 2, Rouge is a jewel thief obsessed with gems. Like many of Plaza’s best roles, upon first impression Rouge comes off as something of a ditsy airhead, but in reality is quite intelligent and strategic-minded.
A mid-credits scene in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 teased the sometimes villain, sometimes anti-hero Shadow as appearing in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Like Rouge the Bat, Shadow makes his first appearance in the game Sonic Adventures 2, which boosts the likelihood we can expect Rouge to also appear. If she does, the filmmakers could do a lot worse than to cast Aubrey Plaza.
It’s possible we’re wrong about the Rouge casting, but the Sonic franchise isn’t exactly blessed with an overabundance of popular female villains. The only other role we can think of that would fit Aubrey Plaza perfectly would be Breezie the Hedgehog, a manipulative media mogul. But since she’s only ever appeared in the Archie Comics Sonic the Hedgehog series and none of the games, that would seem to limit the character appeal.
While she’s still best known as the apathetic tween April Ludgate on Parks & Recreation, Aubrey Plaza is no stranger to playing villains. On FX’s Legion, based on the Marvel Comics mutant of the same name, she plays a character who is ultimately revealed to be a manifestation of the villainous Shadow King. She’s also been cast in the upcoming Disney+ series Agatha: Coven of Chaos, with many guessing she’ll play the antagonist; perhaps even reprising her role as the Shadow King.
