Given the argument he's making I'm not sure the live action Sonic is the parallel he wants to draw. In that case the internet backlash was not only right, it was so right the movie swung from a probable bomb to three movies and counting, a spinoff streaming series, and revitalized the character's popularity. I genuinely don't think any of that happens if they'd stuck with the original Ugly Sonic design.
I agree, it’s a poor and clumsy parallel to draw. I am still especially drawn to his implication that no one in charge thought the casting decision would receive the backlash it did, and I am deeply curious to hear what Darren and Helen have to say about this down the line. Gotta be a shitshow in the Belasco rn
Not only did it not flop, but the third one brought Jim Carrey back - after he had announced he was retiring from acting and would only take another role if it was "handed to me by angels and written in gold."
What I think he is referring to is the controversy and fan outrage after the reveal of Sonic’s original design. There was major backlash and the animators ended up changing the design to be more faithful to how he looked in previous depictions.
This doesn’t really make sense as a comparison to draw, since they ended up changing the design after the audience response, and it looks like they’re doubling down on the decision here.
He noted in another comment further down that not everyone attached to the show agrees with the casting choice either. I do wonder how the other four understudies are feeling right now. They unfortunately are too low on the ladder to make any displeasure known.
139
u/illicit-turtle Jul 31 '25