Sega nearly killed Sonic before the movies revived the franchise
During a recent interview at the Tokyo Game Show, Sonic boss Takashi Iizuka recalled both the good and 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... Read Entire Article
Sonic the Hedgehog has been Sega's face for over three decades, but the iconic blue hedgehog nearly met his demise in the early 1990s. According to Sonic boss Takashi Iizuka, executives once told the team to cancel the entire franchise. Iizuka fought to keep the franchise alive. A pivotal moment came in 2020 with the release of the first live-action movie.
Viewers were shocked by Sonic's redesigned appearance, but the director listened to the criticism and made significant changes before the film's launch. The movie grossed $320 million and revived the franchise, leading to multiple sequels and over 1.5 billion copies sold worldwide. This story emphasizes how precarious the entertainment industry can be, and how one project can either make or break a franchise and alter history.
If Nintendo had abandoned Mario after the 1993 live-action film's release, the company's timeline might have been vastly different. Had the 2020 Sonic movie flopped, Nintendo might have reconsidered releasing The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023, which grossed $1.36 billion. It's possible we may never have experienced the captivating movies and games we enjoy today if an executive had prematurely cancelled the Sonic franchise.
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