Sega once considered cancelling Sonic, says franchise boss Iizuka

Takashi Iizuka, Sonic Team boss and chief creative officer for the Sonic franchise, said that during the series' lowest period Sega's senior leadership told him the entire Sonic franchise should be cancelled, and that he fought within the organization to keep it alive. Iizuka made the remarks in an interview with One More Game during Tokyo Game Show, as the franchise marks its 35th anniversary in 2026. According to Iizuka, the turning point came with the release of the first live-action Sonic the Hedgehog film in 2020. Despite early backlash over Sonic's original movie design, which prompted a redesign before launch, the film became a box-office success, grossing roughly $320 million according to one report. Iizuka called the movie the biggest milestone for the franchise, saying it was a great hit and changed the course of the franchise by demonstrating continued demand for the character and introducing a new generation of fans. The interview also covered the fate of Shadow the Hedgehog.