Sega Considered Canceling Sonic Entirely Before Movie Turned It Around

Sonic has weathered significant ups and downs over its decades-long history, but according to franchise head Takashi Iizuka, things once got dire enough that Sega considered shutting it down completely.

Iizuka disclosed that during the franchise's worst period, he received orders from leadership to cancel Sonic entirely. "There had been good times, and there had been bad times… during the worst times, I was told by the higher-ups that we should cancel the entire franchise. I had to fight within the organization to keep the franchise as long as possible," he said.

The turning point came with the first Sonic movie in 2020. Despite initial backlash over the character's original design, the redesign proved successful. The film earned $320 million at the global box office and spawned two sequels, with a third in development.

"The biggest milestone for me was the first movie… that had been a great hit and definitely changed the course of this franchise," Iizuka explained.

Sonic has since evolved into a full cross-media property, though Iizuka emphasizes that games remain its foundation. He notes that longtime fans typically prefer straightforward action-platforming experiences, while newer audiences gravitate toward story-driven titles. The franchise continues supporting both 2D and 3D game development, with titles like Sonic Mania and Sonic Origins targeting classic fans.