Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

Paramount's video game film Sonic the Hedgehog 4.

Specifically, Sonic icon Amy Rose, the hero's ally and hammer-wielding love interest from the video games. Combined with the events of its main story, Sonic the Hedgehog 3's introduction of Amy and Metal Sonic carries enormous implications for what Sonic the Hedgehog 4 will be about, as it could adapt the events of three classic Sonic video games.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4's Story Could Be Based On Sonic CD

Amy And Metal Sonic's Debut Could Lead To An Adaptation Of Their First Game

Sonic the Hedgehog 3's first post-credits scene teases that the franchise's fourth film will be based on the events of Sonic CD, the game that introduced both Amy and Metal Sonic. Sonic CD shows Doctor Eggman and Metal Sonic kidnapping Amy and taking over Little Planet after it appears in the sky. The game also had Sonic and Eggman harnessing the power of the planet's seven Time Stones, allowing them to control the flow of history.

Due to the presence of Little Planet in Sonic CD, adapting the game in Sonic the Hedgehog 4 could mean showing the blue hero and his friends traveling to other planets once more, expanding the cosmic scope of the story. Likewise, considering the Terminator-esque way that the Metal Sonics appear in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the film's sequel could implement the time travel elements of Sonic CD and have these robots going back in time to kill Sonic.

However, it is more likely that the Sonic movies' Chaos Emeralds will take the Time Stones' place in the fourth movie, given the former jewels were also capable of controlling time in the games. Nevertheless, this might even open the door for the time-traveling Silver the Hedgehog to enter the franchise as well.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Could Borrow Elements From Sonic Advance

Sonic Advance Also Featured Amy Fighting Alongside Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles

Sonic Advance is a more traditional and basic Sonic game than many of the franchise's other titles. This Game Boy Advance title showed the blue hedgehog and his friends trying to stop Eggman from ruling the world when he turns animals into robots and tries to assemble the Chaos Emeralds. There isn't much to adapt from this game in of plot. However, Sonic Advance does feature Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy as the main playable protagonists, which could translate into how the fourth Sonic film portrays its heroes.

Since Amy has finally appeared in the Sonic movie franchise, the filmmakers could gain some inspiration from Sonic Advance as they depict the four alien heroes teaming up to save the world. Whether or not the fourth Sonic film depicts time travel in its story, the Chaos Emeralds could still return as a more major plot device. Since the Emeralds were kept hidden in case of emergencies for most of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, having them reappear in a more prominent role could shake up the sequel's story for the better.

Metal Sonic's Tease Could Make Sonic Heroes The Basis For Sonic The Hedgehog 4's Story

With Robotnik Gone, Metal Sonic Could Now Be The Villain Of Sonic 4

If the fourth Sonic film takes inspiration from the Sonic Heroes video game, Metal Sonic could end up taking Ivo Robotnik's place as the movie's main antagonist. Sonic Heroes showed Metal Sonic disguising himself as Dr. Eggman and copying Sonic's data and that of his many other friends and rivals to gain their power. He even gathered data on Shadow and the deity Chaos, ascending to a new level of strength as Neo Metal Sonic.

Ivo did seem to sacrifice himself to save the Earth from his grandfather's Eclipse Cannon at the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. This noble death leaves the perfect opening for Metal Sonic to step in and take the doctor's place as Sonic's arch-nemesis. Also, Metal Sonic copying the powers of Sonic and his allies should make him a formidable new adversary for the sequel who justifies a larger team of ultra-powerful heroes. The Sonic films have already introduced Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Shadow, so if another spinoff TV show like Knuckles debuts more characters, the fourth movie could make for a surprisingly faithful adaptation of Sonic Heroes.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4's Story Will Have To Combine Multiple Video Games After The First Trilogy

The Way The Sonic Films Have Unfolded Requires Several Adaptations In The Fourth Film

At this point in Paramount's movie franchise, it would be nearly impossible to precisely adapt games like Sonic Heroes, Sonic Advance, or Sonic CD for Sonic the Hedgehog 4. Shadow has already appeared, and he is shown to have survived the Eclipse Cannon's destruction in the third film's post-credits scene, implying he will return in the near future. Also, since Dr. Robotnik seems to finally be dead, he will likely not return to play the roles he had in either of these three games after Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

As a result, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 will have to merge plot elements from all three games to deliver a proper story for the big screen. Doing so can grant Amy a more active role in the story rather than the part of the damsel-in-distress in Sonic CD. Metal Sonic can also appear as a more formidable and well-rounded antagonist, as he does in Sonic Heroes. While Robotnik may be gone, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 can still capitalize on the fan-favorite Jim Carrey by having Metal Sonic impersonate him in his pursuit of ultimate power.

While it can't precisely adapt the games it takes inspiration from, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 could take all these ingredients to make a vast and satisfying follow-up to Sonic's acclaimed third movie.

Following the events of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the franchise shows tremendous potential with everything it has set up for its fourth movie. Amy Rose could become a powerful ally and romantic partner for Sonic, presenting a unique chapter in the hero's journey. Neo Metal Sonic could also usurp Shadow as the blue hedgehog's strongest and most fearsome enemy yet. While it can't precisely adapt the games it takes inspiration from, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 could take all these ingredients to make a vast and satisfying follow-up to Sonic's acclaimed third movie.