The following contains spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog 3.Sonic the Hedgehog 3 director Jeff Fowler explains Shadow's character arc in the movie and what it means for the franchise. Voiced by Keanu Reeves, Shadow was introduced in the mid-credits scene of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and becomes one of the antagonists in the franchise's third installment. Designed to be an anti-Sonic before ing the team, the character has a tragic backstory in the game, which Sonic the Hedgehog 3 adapts from.

In an interview with Screen Rant, Fowler offered some insight into Shadow's character arc and the epic fight scene he has with Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in the movie. Fowler explains that the backstory and the major turns in the character's life are fundamental in shaping Shadow, which is already "its own movie." To fit into the scope of "a Sonic movie," they worked with the characters around Shadow, including Maria, grandfather Robotnik, and the family connection, which is "an exciting challenge." Check out what the director said below:

I mean, we're always looking to the sources for inspiration, and visually, just whatever we can do to excite the fans. Every aspect of Shadow is sort of the backstory, his arcs, his turns. It was something that could be its own movie. So having to fit it inside a Sonic movie, that was the real trick. And so obviously, we really worked hard on the concepting of those ideas. Shadow and Maria's relationship, how do we tell a really powerful emotional story, but it has to fit in a certain box because it's a big movie? There's a lot of characters. We've got a new Robotnik character running around, and we want to explore the family angle from Robotnik's POV. So it's all these great sort of story threads and how to kind of balance and thread them. And it was an exciting challenge.

What This Means For Shadow In Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Explores Shadow's Connection To Sonic

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 includes Shadow's backstory from the games and sees him suffering a tragic loss after being a test subject in a facility. The anguish that Shadow suffers from losing Maria and being held a prisoner for 50 years turns him into a dark version of Sonic. However, Shadow's character arc is similar to Knuckles' and Sonic's in many ways, and his connection to Eggman's grandfather adds an unexpected twist to the story.

Even though Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a Sonic movie, the film largely explores Shadow's backstory and growth, and while exploring his rage, grief, and ultimate change, the film also offers fresh new perspectives on Sonic. Fowler's comments suggest the intricate connection between Sonic and Shadow is the key to maintaining the balance. The two, being like a mirror of each other, is how Shadow's story becomes an integral part of Sonic's character arc in the third installment.

Our Take On Shadow In Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Shadow's Story Is Just The Beginning

Shadow's relationship with Maria is at the core of his character arc, which foresees his ultimate change from a villain to a hero. In the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 ending, Eggman (Jim Carrey) also goes through the same transformation. On the other hand, Eggman's grandfather loses himself as he becomes consumed by the need for revenge. All the characters' arcs eventually come back to family and friends and how they are the cornerstone of human experience.

Both Shadow and Eggman choose to sacrifice themselves to save others. It almost seems that Shadow's story arc is complete at the end of the film, but the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 post-credits scene teases his fate beyond the film, which is only the beginning of his story. Fowler's comment also suggests that there might be more twists and turns to expect in the future now that a fourth movie is on the way.