Director Jeff Fowler announced Friday that production on Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has wrapped. He shared a behind-the-scenes set photo featuring Metal Sonic—the hedgehog's robotic doppelganger—suggesting the villain will have a significant role in the fourth installment.
Fowler, who has directed the franchise since its first film, promised that this is "the best Sonic movie yet." The three previous films have collected billions at the box office.
The franchise rebounded after the first film's character redesign controversy. The subsequent movies won audiences with snappy dialogue, video game accuracy, and charm. Metal Sonic is a fan favorite from the games, and his appearance signals that the filmmakers are drawing from deeper video game lore.
No release date has been announced. With production wrapped and post-production underway, Paramount is likely to begin promotional efforts soon.
