Takashi Iizuka: Sega considered ending Sonic before 2020 film hit
Takashi Iizuka says Sega once considered ending Sonic during a rough patch. The 2020 Sonic film became a major turning point.
- Iizuka calls the first live-action Sonic movie from 2020 a major turning point; reporting links it to about $320 million in revenue.
- The Sonic Team veteran says he has worked on more than 30 Sonic-related games and that the franchise is now 35 years old.
What happened
Takashi Iizuka, who has been involved with Sonic the Hedgehog for decades, looked back on a period when Sega reportedly had doubts about the series’ future. In the reporting, he says company leaders once told him Sonic might need to be cut during one of the franchise’s toughest stretches. The available sources frame this as Iizuka’s recollection of an internal conversation, not as a public Sega announcement.
Iizuka says he continued to argue for Sonic’s survival inside Sega. In the same reflection, he points to the first live-action Sonic movie from 2020 as a milestone that changed the franchise’s direction. The film was released in 2020 and is linked in the reporting to roughly $320 million in revenue, though the source does not fully clarify whether that figure is worldwide box office.
The comments surfaced around Sonic’s 35th anniversary. Iizuka also referenced his own career, saying he has worked on more than 30 Sonic-related games. That places the franchise in a long historical context, from its 1991 debut to the 2020 film release.
Timeline
1991 — Sonic the Hedgehog debuts as a Sega franchise.
2020 — The first live-action Sonic the Hedgehog film is released.
2020 — The film is linked in reporting to about $320 million in revenue.
2021 — Takashi Iizuka marks Sonic’s 35th anniversary in a message to fans.
2026-09-22 — Iizuka’s reflection on Sega’s doubts about Sonic is highlighted again.
Background
Iizuka says Sonic is now 35 years old and that he has worked on more than 30 Sonic projects. That makes him one of the longest-serving developers associated with the series. His role at Sonic Team is also noted in the context of this reflection as a creative leader within the franchise.
The available sources leave a few points open. It is not clear whether Sega ever made a formal decision to scrap Sonic, or whether this was an internal discussion during a weak period. The reported figure of about $320 million is also left without further detail in the source material. What is clear is that Iizuka sees the 2020 film as an important moment in Sonic’s history.