Where Did Shadow Come From In Sonic The Hedgehog 3?

Spoilers Alert: This article contains potential spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog 3!Sonic the Hedgehog 3 brought the popular character Shadow to the big screen, but the question of where exactly the mysterious hedgehog came from remains. The third installment in the Sonic film franchise introduces Shadow the Hedgehog (Keanu Reeves), two years after his brief appearance at the end of Sonic 2, and he serves as the antagonist against Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey), and Knuckles (Idris Elba). Throughout the movie, Shadow works alongside both Gerald and Ivo Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey in dual roles, to obtain the necessary equipment required to activate the Eclipse Cannon and obliterate Earth.

Since its release in theaters, Sonic 3 has broken Rotten Tomatoes audience records and has been cited by many critics as the best movie of the Sonic franchise. Keanu Reeves, in particular, received high praise for his voice work as Shadow, with director Jeff Fowler comparing Reeves' Shadow to his performance in the John Wick franchise. Sonic 3 offers startling insight into Shadow the Hedgehog's past and how he eventually grew to resent humanity, but it's still a mystery as to how he arrived on Earth and where exactly he came from.

Shadow Likely Came From The Black Comet In Sonic 3

Shadow's Origins Were Explored In The Sonic Game Series

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In Sonic 3, viewers discover Shadow the Hedgehog's origins and are shown his life at Gerald Robotnik's laboratory. Established by flashbacks, Shadow underwent various tests as part of Project Shadow and formed a close bond with Robotnik's granddaughter, Maria (Alyla Browne). Project Shadow was eventually forcibly shut down by G.U.N., after being deemed too dangerous to continue, and Maria is killed in an explosion; her death leads to Shadow desiring revenge. Shadow arrived at Robotnik's laboratory after crashing on Earth in a meteorite, which most likely came from the Black Comet seen in the Sonic games.

In Shadow's 2005 spinoff game, Shadow the Hedgehog, it's revealed that Gerald Robotnik made a deal with Black Doom, the overlord of the Black Comet; the deal was that the two would work together to create the Ultimate Lifeform, which Black Doom wished to use to obtain the Chaos Emeralds when the comet returned after 50 years (via Sonic Retro). Black Doom's blood was also used during Shadow's creation. However, Gerald turned against Black Doom and designed the Eclipse Cannon to destroy the Black Comet once it returned in the future.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Connecting Shadow's Asteroid To Black Doom Helps The Future

Black Doom Could Be Explored Further In Sonic 4

Sonic 3's ending sees Shadow and Doctor Robotnik destroying the Eclipse Cannon and saving Earth from destruction. While it initially appears that Shadow is gone, the post-credits scene shows he survived the cannon's explosion, indicating his return in the 2027 sequel. Shadow's potential return in Sonic 4 could lead to Black Doom appearing as the next villain after Doctor Robotnik's apparent demise. The spinoff series Knuckles has already hinted towards Black Doom's future appearance, and Shadow's connection to the Eclipse Cannon depicted in Sonic 3 helps the franchise's future.

Related Now That Keanu Reeves Is In The Franchise, Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Secretly Obsesses Over Another Actor Sonic the Hedgehog referenced Keanu Reeves before casting him as Shadow, and now Sonic 3 has a new actor it's obsessed with. Will they be cast next?

As depicted in the video game, Black Doom contributed to the creation of Shadow with plans to use him to locate the Chaos Emeralds on Earth. In the game, Black Doom takes advantage of Shadow's amnesia to ensure he locates the Emeralds; in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Shadow retains his memories of the past, which could impact plans for the sequel's plot. However, Shadow's connections to the Black Comet could potentially be explored in the sequel and may allow Black Doom to step in as the spectacular new villain in the Sonic franchise.

Source: Sonic Retro