Despite having hit theaters in February, Paramount Pictures has announced its decision to release Sonic The Hedgehog on demand in response to the coronavirus, which has caused many movie theaters to shut their doors. This is a preventative measure to encourage social distancing and keep people from going out to public places, to cut down on the risk of potentially contracting and spreading COVID-19.
Sonic The Hedgehog is the latest in a long line of commercial films to be released on demand due to the coronavirus outbreak, following in the footsteps of such films as Disney’s Onward, Birds of Prey, and The Invisible Man. The film will be available for digital rental, and also in 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD. It will most likely be available for streaming on Epix as well, since Epix has a deal with Paramount Pictures until 2022.
Sonic The Hedgehog, based on the Sega video game and starring Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, and Jim Carrey, has already made $306 million at the box office world wide, making it the highest grossing video game movie of all time. Production for the film was already delayed in the past by drastic alterations of the eponymous CGI main character, ordered by director Jeff Fowler after fan backlash of the character’s original design. Sonic The Hedgehog‘s digital release is scheduled for March 31st.