Newly leaked footage from the early production stages of Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog movie has surfaced online, offering a clearer look at the infamous scrapped Sonic design that stunned the fanbase in 2019. Shared by Twitter user Doctor Caboose, the test footage includes several scenes from the film’s original cut—before Sonic’s now-iconic redesign was implemented.
Doctor Caboose claims the material came from “an old job with a company that no longer exists,” fueling speculation that they were once affiliated with Moving Picture Company Vancouver, the studio that reportedly handled Sonic’s redesign before shutting down later that same year. While only screenshots have been posted so far, the user suggests a full video is on the way, pending the removal of identifying metadata.
The leaked stills feature unfinished versions of scenes fans will immediately recognize: Sonic and Longclaw during the film’s prologue, Sonic riding shotgun with Tom Wachowski, and an early glimpse of the mushroom planet from the finale. But it’s Sonic’s appearance that draws the most attention—retaining the original “Ugly Sonic” design with small eyes, gangly limbs, and unsettlingly human teeth.
First revealed in the movie’s debut trailer, the original design faced swift and intense backlash from fans and critics alike. The criticism led Paramount and SEGA to delay the film and completely redesign the character. The final version, developed in consultation with fans and franchise veterans, was met with widespread praise and helped turn Sonic the Hedgehog into a box office hit.
The film ultimately grossed over $320 million worldwide and spawned two sequels, a Knuckles spin-off series on Paramount+, and a fourth movie currently set for 2027. Meanwhile, the scrapped design found new life as a parody character in Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, voiced by Tim Robinson, and in the final season of Big Mouth cementing its legacy as both a cautionary tale and a meme icon.
This newly resurfaced footage is a striking reminder of how close Sonic came to missing his cinematic breakout—and how fan feedback can shape the course of an entire franchise.
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