Sonic 3 confirmed Keanu Reeves as the voice of Shadow the Hedgehog, a dream casting that I can't wait to see.

Shadow's Akira slide is the sort of cool moment that indicates how stylish and bold the movie will be, but I'm curious to see just how brave it's willing to get. Despite being a relatively lighthearted and family-friendly series, it would be interesting to see Sonic 3 take some risks. The introduction of Shadow already suggests a few shocking scenes could be on the way, but the third installment has the perfect opportunity to push the boundaries. Therefore, the movie doing the unthinkable and exploring one dark storyline would win my respect and raise the stakes even more.

Sonic 3 Killing Off Tom Would Drastically Raise The Stakes For The Franchise

Killing Off A Familiar Character Like Tom Would Make Sonic 3 The Biggest Sonic Movie Yet

With Dr. Robotnik returning in Sonic 3, it's clear the franchise doesn't permanently write out characters very often, but killing off Tom would raise the stakes massively. Tom Wachowski has been a great addition to the Sonic movies, as he gives the protagonists a human ally who genuinely wants to do good as a police officer. He fits the tone and humor of the film series perfectly, but this would make his demise even more impactful if he were to die in Sonic 3, adding huge stakes alongside a more personal touch to the final battle.

Given the movie looks to be going all out with Shadow as its antagonist, having the hedgehog be responsible for Tom's death would add a more serious and vengeful side to Sonic, as opposed to his usual laid-back demeanor. I think it would be great if Sonic the Hedgehog 3 set up a dark twist for its protagonist, and Tom's death would be the best way to do so while highlighting just how menacing Shadow is. The villain would feel even more powerful and sinister than Dr. Robotnik, which is exactly the sort of jeopardy I'm hoping to see.

Sonic 3 Is Already Much Darker Than Sonic The Hedgehog 1 & 2

Shadow's Introduction & Backstory Will Completely Shift The Tone Compared To The Previous Films

From the trailer alone, it's already clear that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be much darker than the previous two entries. While Dr. Robotnik was a strong enemy, his goofy personality leaned into the humorous elements of the films, and his plans seemed nowhere near as devastating as Shadow's. Shadow's chaos control suggests he'll be powerful in Sonic 3, and his desire for revenge indicates the movie will have a more serious tone. Although the project will still be filled with jokes and silly moments, the overall story seems significantly more mature than Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2.

The early signs point towards Shadow's backstory being faithful to previous iterations of the character.

Additionally, Shadow's origin story is the saddest in the entire franchise, as it involves a child being murdered which sends the antagonist down a sinister path. Although there is no guarantee Sonic 3 sticks with this exact narrative, the early signs point towards Shadow's backstory being faithful to previous iterations of the character, setting up an extremely bleak tone. Maria and Shadow's tragic storyline will be hard to balance with Sonic the Hedgehog's signature comedy, but the movie series has given me plenty of reasons to be confident that it can handle this large adjustment.

Sonic 3 Doesn’t Really Need To Kill Off Tom To Be More Serious

The Trailer Already Showed Sonic 3 Will Have A More Serious Plot Regardless Of Tom's Fate

While killing off Tom would be a massive statement about the film's grim atmosphere, it can still be serious without this moment. Adding Shadow was always going to make the story darker, but it doesn't have to be completely downbeat. Even with the new villain, Sonic 3 should still have moments to laugh at and be a mostly relaxing film, only this time with higher stakes. As much as I look forward to Shadow's menacing plans, I can't imagine Sonic fans going to theaters to watch a tragedy, and killing off established characters does risk becoming too emotional.

Sonic the Hedgehog's audience will grow and mature as the franchise progresses, but it is still mostly aimed towards younger viewers, and Maria's death is already on the edge of being too much. I'd definitely respect Sonic 3 if it killed Tom and proved that it is willing to go all out with Shadow's story, but I'm still not sure that it's entirely necessary for this kind of franchise. So long as the movie can make Shadow intimidating and give the protagonists a strong storyline, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be as serious and compelling as it needs to be.