Sonic the Hedgehog 2 now has an official release date and confirmation that Tails will be playing a major role in the movie.

Before we go any further, major spoilers lie ahead for anyone who is yet to see Sonic the Hedgehog. With that out of the way, the very first official teaser for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was dropped by Paramount today. Since the filming for the sequel doesn't start until next month, the teaser doesn't feature any actual footage. However, it does include a couple of elements from the video game with which it shares the same name.

Many of you will instantly recognize the soundtrack from the teaser, which you can check out below. It is, of course, a slightly jazzed-up version of the theme from Sonic 2's Emerald Hill Zone. The movie was actually codenamed Emerald Hill earlier this year. The teaser also reveals that the movie will be hitting theaters on April 8, 2022. Providing theaters are open by then and barring any necessary tweaks to new character designs.

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Perhaps the most exciting element of the teaser is the inclusion of Tails. Here come those spoilers we warned you about. If you stuck around for the credits after the first movie, you will have seen Tails making his big-screen debut, arriving on Earth via a ring-powered portal, as Sonic did at the start of the movie. He mentions something about needing Sonic's help before the movie then comes to its official end.

Both Sonic and Tails can be seen speeding across the screen at the start of the teaser. The balled-up Tails then returns to the screen at the end of the teaser to form the 2 to give you a first look at the movie's logo. Fingers crossed the fox isn't as annoying in the movie's sequel as he was throughout Sonic 2 on the Genesis.

The first Sonic movie was a lot more successful than most people expected, especially after the debacle that was the reveal of the blue blur's original design. It generated more than $300 million at the box office worldwide despite its theatrical run being cut short by the pandemic. 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the very first Sonic game. A Lego set featuring the hedgehog has already been announced.

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