Sonic fans, do you want the good news or the bad news first? Oh, you can’t really respond to me in real time because I’m just typing on a keyboard? Okay, the good news first then: Sonic is getting a fourth movie. This is pretty obvious news to anyone who read our previous story about the Sonic Movie 3 post-credits leak, but we’ll take good news whenever we can.
Variety is reporting the fourth Sonic film will release in spring 2027. This news comes just before Sonic 3 hits theaters in North America on December 20th with a projected $55-60 million opening. Not too shabby.
Sonic Movie 3 Gets Fresh Reviews
Critics seem to be loving the movie, with a 88% certified fresh rating on the movie-rating website Rotten Tomatoes (with 67 reviews counted as of writing).
For reference, the first Sonic movie received a 64% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the sequel received a slighty higher 69%. If the third film can stay in the high-80s, it’ll be by far the best-reviewed Sonic film of all time. And why not? The trailers certainly seem great, and early impressions from fans were also positive.
OK, ready to “live and learn” about the bad news? (Sorry).
Singer Sues SEGA for Breach of Contract
Crush 40 singer Johnny Gioeli is suing SEGA for up to a million dollars for breach of contract and unpaid royalties. Johnny Gioeli was under the impression that his song “Live and Learn” was only being used in one game, Sonic Adventure 2 (2001) until, he claims, a fan informed him that the song was being used in a plethora of other Sonic games and media.
Check This Out: Listen to the catchy “Live and Learn” song below with animated lyrics.
Johnny Gioeli left a statement to Polygon:
I have no comment other than my desire to maintain the preservation of a long standing beautiful relationship with Sega. I do not want fans to draw conclusions or be disrupted from the beautiful memories we have made collectively with this music. I believe and hope we will come to a peaceful settlement that will be fair and just.
Johnny claims he owns the rights to the song’s “master recording and composition,”and that SEGA owns the rights to only the lyrics. Johnny is claiming SEGA never properly compensated him for at least 25 separate SEGA games over the years, including Yakuza 4.
Personally, I call BS on him not knowing the song was being used in other Sonic media. You’re telling me the thing that made you famous is something you never kept up-to-date on for over 23 years? And the timing of suing SEGA right when their popular movie is about to release is far too perfect (just like Shadow).
NintendoUp!
Luckily for fans, Johnny says he gave the movie studio Paramount (not SEGA) the rights to use Live and Learn “in any manner they feel necessary,” so you’ll be hearing the iconic song in the Sonic 3 movie. Gioeli’s lawsuit applies only to SEGA video games, so don’t expect the song to appear again in a game until the lawsuit is settled (or maybe SEGA will never use the song again out of spite…time will tell).
Are you on Johnny’s side here? And will you be watching the new Sonic film? There’s so many things to discuss! Let us know in the comments below.