Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Post Credits Scene and Ending Explained

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 screenings are already beginning in the United States and worldwide during early Thursday night screenings of the film, which will be publicly available on April 8th. As a result, we should expect to see a lot of discussion about the film online shortly, especially regarding how it might set the stage for the next Sonic film, which Paramount announced earlier this year, as well as the TV series starring Idris Elba as Knuckles the Echidna. And, given we've already established that the new picture released this weekend has a post-credits scene worth seeing, how does it, along with the rest of the film's finale, set up what's to come next?

While Knuckles and Sonic are at odds in the film, as all of the promotional material suggests, Sonic fans may have expected the two superfast characters to be enemies for a long time. By the end of the film, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles have made peace, forming a friendly friendship that allows the trio, Tom, and Maddie to reclaim their feeling of normalcy.

So, the big three of the Sonic universe are doing OK, but what about Dr. Robotnik, their long-time foe? The character played by Jim Carrey, who returns from the first film, is beaten at the end of the second, but Robotnik is nowhere to be found once the climactic battle is over. That certainly leaves room for Robotnik to reappear in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and elsewhere, though Carrey himself has thrown some doubt on future appearances by stating that he is considering retirement from acting. Regardless of what Carrey had planned, the Sonic film's producers have stated that he will not be recast.

Spoiler Alert: There are more spoilers ahead.

Perhaps even more intriguing than all of that is the previously stated post-credits scene. Following the half roll of the credits, we're treated to the previously stated cleanup scene, when something else is discovered: A lab that is hidden. A brief pass over a tube housing a lifeform reveals that the vessel held none other than Shadow the Hedgehog, who opens his eyes menacingly to close the film, and some commentary from the military presence there indicates that the lab went unnoticed for years.

With everything out of the way, it appears that Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles will be good friends in the next film, though it's unknown how big of a role the other two will have in Knuckles' live-action show at this time. Dr. Robotnik will almost probably return, but if what we know about Shadow outside of the film is any indication of what to expect in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, dealing with Shadow alone, much alone Shadow and Robotnik, will take Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles' combined efforts.