Sonic 2 Cast & Character Guide: What The Voice Actors Look Like

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 features a talented cast of actors, both voice and live-action; here’s the cast of characters and where you know their actors from. The film, directed by Jeff Fowler, is receiving positive reviews and is set to perform well at the box office after grossing over $26 million in only 31 international markets before its domestic release. Whether it be known ofaces performing in live-action, trying their hand at voice acting, or returning game voice actors, the Sonic films boast some fun on-screen work, helping to bolster its success.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 follows immediately from the end of the first film. Sonic is trying his hand at vigilante hero work as the self-titled “Blue Justice.” But soon, he’s embroiled in a globe-trotting adventure with the return of Dr. Robotnik and the emergence of both new allies and enemies. Two new characters from the games in Knuckles the Echidna and Miles “Tails” Prower are in Sonic 2, both CGI creations like Sonic with voice-acting performances.

The positive performance of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is helped in no small part by the seamless blend between the computer-generated elements of the film and the live-action performances. This blend is made possible, not only by the director and behind-the-camera team, but by the performances generated by the film’s many live-action actors and, arguably more importantly, the voice-acting on display. Here is the complete guide for the film’s voice-actors and the rest of the characters in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Ben Schwartz as Sonic the Hedgehog

Ben Schwartz provides the voice and facial motion capture of the titular character, reprising his role from Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic is an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who can run at supersonic speeds. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 chronicles the return of Sonic villain, Dr. Robotnik, who seeks the Master Emerald to exact his revenge. Sonic teams up with Tails the Fox to prevent Robotnik from carrying out his plan.

Schwartz is known for a wide variety of film and TV projects, including smaller voice roles in The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, and DuckTales. Schwartz, however, is more widely known for his live-action roles, particularly NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, where he guested as Jean-Ralphio Saperstein before moving on to bigger, main cast roles in House of Lies and Space Force.

Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Miles “Tails” Prower

Colleen O’Shaughnessey reprises her role as Tails the Fox in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, being the only voice actor from the game franchise to voice their CGI live-action counterpart thus far. Tails is an anthropomorphic two-tailed fox who can use his tails to fly at speeds rivaling Sonic by spinning them like a helicopter rotor. He initially visits Earth to warn Sonic that Knuckles the Echidna is hunting him, after being inspired by Sonic’s battle against Robotnik at the end of Sonic the Hedgehog. This leads Tails and Sonic to become friends, teaming up to stop Robotnik and Knuckles’ plan.

O’Shaughnessey began voicing Tails in 2014 for the Sonic game series and its spinoffs. O’Shaughnessey has a decorated voice-acting career, appearing in many different franchises and projects besides the Sonic franchise. Along with Sonic, she is perhaps best known for her roles voicing Sora Takenouchi in the Digimon anime, Wasp in The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and Ino Yamanaka in the Naruto anime series, among others.

Idris Elba as Knuckles the Echidna

In 2021, Idris Elba was announced as the voice of Knuckles the Echidna, one of the most popular characters from the Sonic game franchise. Searching for the Master Emerald in order to protect it and honor the Echidna tribe’s legacy, Knuckles initially teams up with Robotnik, who manipulates Knuckles into helping him. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 adapts Sonic and Knuckles’ initial antagonistic relationship before they eventually team up, creating the iconic trio of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles that is a staple of the Sonic game franchise.

Idris Elba is one of the biggest names in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, having lent his voice to other voice roles in Zootopia, Finding Dory, and The Jungle Book. Elba is more commonly known for his live-action roles, however. Most audiences will recognize him from his time as Heimdall in the MCU. Other films Elba is known for are Pacific Rim, Star Trek Beyond, and, more recently, The Suicide Squad, where he played the mercenary Bloodsport. On the TV end of things, he’s best known for BBC’s Luther and, of course, his breakout role of Stringer Bell in The Wire. Elba will reprise the role of Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and a solo Knuckles spin-off TV show on Paramount+ in 2023.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2’s Supporting Cast & Characters

Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik – Carrey portrays the primary antagonist of the Sonic game franchise and Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Dr. Robotnik. Robotnik covets Sonic’s powers and returns for revenge in the sequel. Jim Carrey has an illustrious career, known for comedic roles in The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and more serious roles in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Truman Show.

James Marsden as Tom Wachowski – The sheriff of Green Hills and Sonic’s father figure and best friend (besides Tails). Marsden is known for his roles as Cyclops/Scott Summers in the original Marvel X-Men trilogy, Prince Edward in Enchanted, and Corny Collins in Hairspray.

Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski – Sumpter plays Maddie, the local veterinarian of Green Hills and Tom’s wife and Sonic’s mother figure. Sumpter is known for her roles in Ride Along and its sequel, Ride Along 2 as well as TV roles in Gossip Girl and The Game.

Some other roles in the film include Natasha Rothwell (Wonder Woman 1984, Love, Simon) as Maddie’s sister Rachel and Adam Pally (Iron Man 3, The Mindy Project) as deputy Green Hills sheriff Wade Whipple. Lee Majdoub of The 100 fame plays Agent Stone, and Shemar Moore (Criminal Minds) rounds off the cast as GUN agent Randall.  Sonic the Hedgehog 2 features several actors from across the film and TV world, making this the complete, comprehensive guide to the film’s varied cast.

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