Why Sonic From Netflix's Sonic Prime Sounds So Familiar

With Netflix's "Sonic Prime" coming to Netflix at the end of the year, some Sonic stans are starting to wonder about the man behind the hedgehog. And after watching the recent "Sonic Prime" trailer, some are even convinced they've heard the new Sonic voice actor's voice before.

When the show was announced in February 2021, not many people knew what it would be about or who would be in it. The facts were few and far in between, but what people did know was that it would involve a multiverse concept and that it would be animated by the studio behind Netflix's "Carmen Sandiego." Later, in an official description of the show, Netflix described it as a "24-episode animated adventure for kids, families, and long-time fans" and "a high-octane adventure where the fate of a strange new multiverse rests in [Sonic's] gloved hands. Sonic's adventure is about more than a race to save the universe, it's a journey of self-discovery and redemption."

And last May, the cast, including the man voicing Sonic, was officially announced.

Soon after the first "Sonic Prime" trailer went live last May, voice actor Deven Mack introduced himself on Twitter as the man behind the hedgehog. Mack, who has lent his voice to characters including Zeo Abyss in "Bakugan: Beyblade: Metal Fusion," Wynton Styles in "Battle Planet," and Thanos in "LEGO Marvel Avengers: Time Twisted," waxed poetic about his role in the post.

"I'll join the ranks of some amazing talents who have and will still be performing this legendary character in the video games and movies, so I like it to be perfectly clear that they ain't going anywhere, and I wouldn't have it any other way," said Mack. "They've been doing amazing work for years that I legit can't wait to hear more of."

He went on to confess that he was "much more of a Tails personality" in his childhood — always the introverted, serious one. And though he never mastered the first Sonic games, he retained fond memories of watching the Sonic cartoons.

As for the "amazing talents who have and will still be performing this legendary character," they couldn't have been more pleased with Mack's casting. Robert Craig Smith, who voices Sonic in the video games, took to Twitter to express his support: "Confirmed! Welcome @DevenOClock to the wild little family of talking blue hedgehogs," the actor wrote. He was followed by many fans who lent their own well wishes. One Twitter user also noted that Mack will be the first Black man to voice Sonic since Jaleel White voiced the character for Sonic cartoons in the mid-'90s.

The "Sonic Prime" premiere date has not been confirmed yet, but the 24-episode-long season will likely hit Netflix in December. The cast will also include Ashleigh Ball, Shannon Chan-Kent, Brian Drummond, Vincent Tong, Ian Hanlin, Kazumi Evans, and Adam Nurada. The show is executive produced by Man of Action Entertainment — the team behind the Academy Award-winning film "Big Hero 6."