Sonic the Hedgehog 3 director Jeff Fowler hinted that the franchise's third installment will set up a new fan-favourite character for a potential fourth movie.

Why it matters: Fowler’s tease has already sparked online debates about who will be introduced next in Sonic 3's post-credit scene.

Fowler said that "it's fun to see the fan debates online about who's coming up next, who's going to be teased at the end of the film."

  • His team has carefully weighed the possibilities for new characters, with the community speculating possible introductions of either Amy Rose, Rouge the Bat, or Silver the Hedgehog.
  • Neither of these characters were confirmed or teased to appear in the upcoming film by Paramount Pictures or SEGA.

The big picture: As Entertainment Weekly's new column notes, Fowler's approach to Sonic 3 combines action and storytelling, pulling from fan-favourite elements in Sonic Adventure 2.

  • He sees Shadow the Hedgehog, the star character in the third film, as key to adding depth to the franchise; calling the Ultimate Lifeform a chance to make the movie franchise "a little more exciting, a little more dangerous."

What to watch: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 hits theatres 20 December.