Jim Carrey Discusses Playing Two Robotniks In ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’

In a new featurette for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 released by Paramount Pictures, Jim Carrey and other members of the Sonic 3 cast talk about his experience playing two characters in the upcoming film. In the video, we see Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden and Tika Sumpter all describing their experiences working with Carrey on the film.

Jim Carrey will of course be reprising his role as Dr. Ivo Robotnik, or Dr. Eggman, but this time he will also be playing Robotnik’s grandfather, Gerald Robotnik. To achieve this, Jim Carrey underwent what he described as “one of the most zany makeup experiences of my life.” Tika Sumpter even remarked, “When I first came on set. I didn’t even know it was Jim.” This of course is nothing new for the actor though, as Carrey famously underwent long and painful makeup transformations to become the Grinch in the 1996 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

In the featurette, Jim Carrey described his reaction to being told he would be playing two characters this time around. He said, “Well when they told me I was going to play two Robotniks, I was delighted. Until I realized, I was doing twice the work for the same pay.” The actor said this in a joking way, but that is not always a factor you think about when an actor plays multiple roles in the same film.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will follow Sonic, Tails and Knuckles when they need to confront the newest to their world: the ultimate lifeform, Shadow the Hedgehog. Along the way, the team must begrudgingly ally with their greatest foe, Dr. Robotnik, in order to take down a common threat. The cast consists of Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Keanu Reeves, James Marsden, Krysten Ritter and Jim Carrey. The film hits theaters on December 20.