Sonic 3’s Major Shadow Video Game Sequence Recreation Explained By Director: “The Fans Would Hunt Me Down If I Didn’t”

Warning! SPOILERS ahead for Sonic the Hedgehog 3.Sonic the Hedgehog 3 director Jeff Fowler reveals why one major video game set piece was a high-priority sequence when bringing Shadow the Hedgehog to the big screen. Voiced by Keanu Reeves, the beloved Sega anti-hero emerges as a powerful new foe for Ben Schwartz’s Sonic the Hedgehog and friends as he embarks on a quest for vengeance. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 also sees the return of Jim Carrey, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, James Marsden, and Tika Sumpter to reprise their roles.

With Sonic the Hedgehog 3‘s finale seeing Sonic and Shadow take on their Super forms to prevent the Eclipse Cannon from firing on Earth in a sequence set to Crush 40’s “Live and Learn”, Fowler broke down the impactful moment with GamesRadar+. According to Fowler, the director knew that bringing the song into the movie’s soundtrack was a high priority due to its presence within Sonic Adventure 2, from its title screen to the video game’s final boss battle. As such, Fowler explained that even from the earliest versions of the movie, the song was always going to be a part of it:

You fire up your Dreamcast and Sonic Adventure 2 and the first thing you’re hearing is licks from “Live and Learn” and Crush 40. I just felt there was no version of this where we weren’t going to make that a strong presence in the film.

Furthermore, Fowler joked that he knew that longtime fans would be left frustrated if he left it out, but emphasized that he was glad to bring the piece of video game music to the big screen. Check out Fowler’s statement below:

The fans would hunt me down if I didn’t. Not only did I do it out of fear of my own life, but also because it’s an awesome song and we’re happy to get to use it.

What “Live And Learn’s” Inclusion Means For Sonic The Hedgehog 3

The Track’s Inclusion Is An Example Of How The Franchise Appeals To Video Game Fans

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is no stranger to familiar tunes making their way onto the soundtrack, as alongside Tom Holkenborg’s original compositions and singles performed by Wiz Khalifa, Lil Yachty, Ty Dolla $ign, Sueco The Child, Kid Cudi, and Jelly Roll, there have been several nods to the video game source material. New renditions of Masato Nakamura’s video game soundtracks and Sonic Mania opening “Friends” by Hyper Potions were included in previous installments. As such, it is unsurprising to see the most memorable vocal track from Sonic Adventure 2 find its way into its big screen adaptation.

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Furthermore, with Fowler’s history with the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise with his work as an animator on the main series’ cinematic cutscenes, it is clear that he is familiar with the elements that fans most celebrate about the series. As such, with “Live and Learn” being a high-priority inclusion on the soundtrack, many may be optimistic about what other elements from the game will be high-priority inclusions in the wake of Sonic the Hedgehog 3‘s post-credits scenes and their highly-anticipated character debuts.

Our Thoughts On Sonic The Hedgehog 3’s “Live and Learn” Needle Drop

The Song Stands Out As A Highlight Of Its Source Material

Sonic Adventure 2 features several memorable pieces of music that continue to hold a fond place in fans’ hearts. From the high-speed “Escape From The City” from Sonic’s first playable level to each playable character’s individual theme tunes, these tracks have been enshrined in the players’ memories.

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However, Fowler’s prioritization of “Live and Learn” is one of Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s crowning moments. Playing at the culmination of Shadow’s arc when he and Sonic finally join forces to save the Earth, the track will forever be associated with the moment that players were given full control of each character at their peak, with the gameplay making them feel that they can take on everything. As such, while newer fans introduced to the song thanks to movie can now enjoy a new earworm, the song’s use in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will undoubtedly resonate with a fond memory for longtime video game fans.

Source: GamesRadar+