Sonic the Hedgehog showing up in an Angry Birds movie probably wasn't on many people's bingo cards for 2026. Yet that's exactly what happens in the latest trailer for The Angry Birds Movie 3, where the blue hedgehog makes a brief appearance alongside Chuck.
The unexpected moment features Sonic running at high speed next to the familiar yellow bird. It's a short scene, but certainly one that Sonic and Angry Birds fans weren't expecting to see.
SEGA brings two familiar gaming worlds together
There is actually a connection behind this unusual crossover. SEGA acquired Angry Birds developer Rovio Entertainment in 2023, bringing both franchises under the same ownership.
That makes Sonic's appearance a little less random, even if seeing him alongside the Angry Birds is still quite a surprise. For now, it's unclear whether this is just a brief cameo or whether Sonic will have a larger role in the movie.
Angry Birds is still around in 2026
It's also a nice reminder that Angry Birds hasn't disappeared. The franchise remains recognizable more than a decade after the original mobile game became a worldwide phenomenon.
In fact, I recently went back to playing Angry Birds myself. I tested the game on my Nintendo Wii, and it was a fun reminder of why the simple slingshot gameplay worked so well in the first place.
I even recorded some gameplay. Here's a little look at Angry Birds running on the Wii:
▶ Watch my Angry Birds Wii gameplay on YouTube
If you're curious why this classic is still worth playing, I've also taken a closer look at the franchise in another article:
Why Everyone Is Playing Angry Birds Again in 2026
The Angry Birds Movie 3 arrives this December
The Angry Birds Movie 3 is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on December 23, 2026. The movie brings back familiar characters including Red, Chuck, Bomb and Silver.
Whether Sonic will appear for more than just this brief moment remains to be seen. Either way, it's an unexpected crossover that gives fans of both franchises something to talk about.
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Webmastahhh is the creator of Mastanet, a gaming and technology website where he shares news, reviews, guides and personal insights about games, hardware, software and the future of digital entertainment.
