Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is coming to theaters next year and it appears the upcoming film adaptation is getting another particularly big star. As revealed in a new social media post, The Suicide Squad actor Idris Elba is joining the Sonic movie sequel as the voice of Knuckles the Echidna, the red rival to the titular blue blur. The post itself teases Knuckles’ in-film appearance, depicting the character’s iconic spiked fist alongside the phrase, “knock, knock.”

Knock, knock….#SonicMovie2 #Knuckles pic.twitter.com/N1PW5XaCEd

— Idris Elba (@idriselba) August 10, 2021

In the games, Knuckles is depicted as a fitting rival to Sonic, making up for his lack of speed with superior fighting experience as well as the ability to glide and climb over long distances. The echidna also acts as a counter to Sonic’s more upbeat personality, with Knuckles generally portrayed with a more gruff and all-around tough-guy attitude. As Idris Elba is known for his similarly no-nonsense personas in films like Pacific Rim, Thor, and the aforementioned The Suicide Squad, the actor seems pretty well-suited for the animated role.

Knuckles’ addition to the Sonic movie sequel comes as the project recently concluded filming, with only post-production to complete ahead of the movie’s release. Though we’ve known about the inclusion of Knuckles for a while, the past few months posed another frontrunner for the role in Aquaman actor Jason Momoa. While this particular casting didn’t work out, a plot summary suggests the echidna could be an antagonist in the 2022 film. With several months until the premiere, fans will likely know more about how he’ll factor in the sequel sometime soon.

Groundbreaking. Thought provoking. Extremely obvious. Presenting the official title of the #SonicMovie sequel: Sonic the Hedgehog 2! Catch #SonicMovie2 in theatres in 2022. pic.twitter.com/SlVk7fakp3

— Sonic the Hedgehog (@SonicMovie) February 10, 2021

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 releases in theaters on April 8th, 2022.

What do you think? Are you happy about Idris Elba becoming Knuckles in the Sonic movie sequel, or would you have cast someone else in the high-profile role? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! For more sequel headlines recently featured on DFTG, check out these next few news stories:

• Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Reportedly In “Final Stages Of Development”
• New South Park Game Coming As A Result Of $900 Million Deal With ViacomCBS
• Beyond Good and Evil 2 Last-Gen Versions Seemingly Cancelled

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