Knuckles (TV series)

• Idris Elba as Knuckles the Echidna:
  A hot-headed and serious anthropomorphic red echidna with super strength. Elba said the series would explore Knuckles being "a fish out of water" after moving to Earth at the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022).[4]
• Adam Pally as Wade Whipple, a deputy sheriff of Green Hills, whom Knuckles will train to be an Echidna Warrior.[3]

• Cary Elwes as Pistol Pete Whipple: An eccentric 27-time championship bowler related to Wade Whipple.[5][6]
• Edi Patterson[3]
• Julian Barratt[3]
• Scott Mescudi[3]
• Ellie Taylor[3] as an undisclosed villain role

• Rory McCann[3]
• Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski, Sonic, Tails and Knuckles' adoptive mother and the local veterinarian of Green Hills.[3]

Additionally, Stockard Channing, Christopher Lloyd, Paul Scheer, and Rob Huebel have been cast in undisclosed roles.[5]

By February 2022, development had begun on a Sonic the Hedgehog series focusing on Knuckles the Echidna for release on Paramount+ in 2023. Sega and Paramount Pictures officially announced the series' development at the ViacomCBS Investor Day presentation in February, with Idris Elba confirmed to be reprising his role of Knuckles from the then-upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) and the series serving as a spin-off of the film.[7][8] In June 2022, Paramount CEO Brian Robbins referred to the series as a miniseries.[9]

In April 2023, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 co-writer John Whittington was announced as the series' developer and head writer. Whittington will also executive produce the series alongside Elba and Sonic film franchise creatives Neal H. Moritz and Toby Ascher of Original Film, Jeff Fowler, and Toru Nakahara. Paramount Pictures and Sega would serve as production companies on the series.[3] It was also reported that the series would follow Knuckles as he trains Wade Wipple, with Adam Pally reprising his role as Wade. Also cast in recurring roles were Edi Patterson, Julian Barratt, Scott Mescudi, and Ellie Taylor, with guest stars including Rory McCann as well as Tika Sumpter reprising her role as Maddie.[3] Additional cast members were confirmed, including Cary Elwes, Stockard Channing, Christopher Lloyd, Paul Scheer, and Rob Huebel in June 2023.[5]

The series had been in the writing stages by April,[4] with Whittington writing alongside Brian Schacter and James Madejski.[3] The series is set between Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024), and will include easter eggs to set-up the events of the latter.[9][3]

Production on the series began by April 2023, in London, England. Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 director Jeff Fowler directed the pilot, with Ged Wright, Brandon Trost, Jorma Taccone and Carol Banker also serving as directors. Trost also serves as cinematographer for the pilot, after having done so on Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Filming took place in varying locations including Pinewood Studios, Black Park, Slough and an unknown location in an industrial estate in Aylesbury.[3]