Last week, Roger Craig Smith - the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog for over ten years - announced his departure from the role.
It's obviously raised discussion about who the next Sonic voice actor could be. A lot of long-time fans have even called for past Sonic the Hedgehog voice actors to return and well, it looks like one, in particular, has already got his agent to contact Sega.
The guy we're talking about is Ryan Drummond. If the name doesn't ring a bell, he's best-known within the community for voicing Sonic in the original Dreamcast outings Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2. He was also credited later on in games like Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut and Sonic Advance 3.
During a recent livestream, Drummond confirmed his agent had reached out to Sega. This was revealed in response to a question about his possible return:
“I wish I could [say ‘yes’], but we don’t know anything yet. You know as much as I know… We don’t want to get kinda bogged down with this conversation topic, but I don’t have any trouble... in telling everyone… my agent did contact SEGA today, so hopefully there’ll be a conversation. And we'll see what happens after that. There's a lot of different factors that people don't even realise that are in play here."
While this will no doubt come as exciting news for many, whether or not Sega would rehire someone for such an iconic role is another question altogether. Would you like to see Drummond reprise his role as Sonic? Let us know down below.
[source sonicstadium.org]
Comments 40
This would be great, especially if the speculation of an Adventure remake ends up being real. Although Ryan did also reaudition for Sonic Colours, but never got it because Sega wanted him to drop his union. I don't know if he's still unionised or if Sega still cares about that (probably do), but it'll determine how this goes I think.
I like him. I'd be down for this.
I wonder why so many voice actors/actresses left sega and sonic. Maybe some butting heads with management?
@Xylnox The first time the cast was replaced was because Sega wanted to unify the voices between the games and Sonic X. The second time was the X actors contracts expired and Sega didn't renew them. This third time is probably a repeat of the first where the Netflix show is going to have it's own cast and Sega wants the games to use the same voices.
Get Snapcube/Penny Parker as the new voice actor.
YES I NEED DRUMMOND BACK
Alfred Coleman as Dr. Eggman or I riot
After all of these years, Ryan is still my favorite voice actor for Sonic. Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 were key games during my childhood, and I would love to hear Ryan’s refreshed take on the blue blur. I’m expecting a new voice actor to replace Roger though, like Ben Schwartz or Max Mittleman.
@TheFrenchiestFry Eggman is likely the only VA not retiring from his role so most likely Mike Pallock is still going to be voicing Dr.Eggman even after the next cast is hired.
While Ryan Drummond has been my favorite English voice for Sonic, I highly doubt SEGA fired all of the existing cast without already having replacements.
Please, Sega. He's my fave Sonic!
Thatel do donkey....thatel.do.
I'd he the happiest man alive if Ryan or Jason returned as Sonic. Sakurai could then patch Smash Ultimate just to put back "You're too slow" into the game XD
He should return, it will be great because it will take some time to find another voice actor who will be perfect for the role. It's easier to have it this way, plus a voice we're familiar with.
Woah... it's a long shot, but that would be pretty dope! Especially considering how much video game voice direction has improved since the 00s.
And listening to some SA1+2 voice clips, he just sounds like the right voice for modern Sonic. But this assumes the writing for Sonic goes back to having more heart than humor.
I would love to see a return of Sonic Adventure, both games have become real cult classics as far as 3D Sonic games go, probably the highlight 3D games among a lot of fans.
omg best english sonic voice! yaaaaassssss plis
ah man, he really was the best sonic VA to me. His voice absolutely fit back then.
Great, now i'm having a ton of childhood flashbacks.
I mean, they've surely already cast the replacement?
One of the most cringe worthy things in gaming, I think is Sonic's voice.😱
I so hope so! He is my favourite.
Ryan's best performance was in Sonic Heroes, he gave it like, that missing layer of personality that was missing from previous works.
The story/cutscenes contribute to that but I think he definitely did something to his pitch as he sounded quite a bit different.
So in other words this dude was like "CHA CHING!!!" when he heard there was a vacancy in the role. Hey the guy's gotta eat, right? I doubt you can retire off that resume of voice acting.
Ryan Drummond was the first voice of Sonic, games-wise, for me. A bit nasal, for sure, and my region will end up with Renato Novara anyway, but Drummond would more than make up for Smith's contract ending.
@Orpheus79V Oh, ty for the info. I didn't know about any info really. I like Sonic as I played some of the games when I was younger but haven't played any for a while. Maybe some of the old voices will come back?
@Ganner That's a strange way to look at it if you're a fan but it's not as bad as Mike Pollock going out of his way to repeatedly remind everyone that it's just a job and Eggman is not what defines him as an actor.
Ryan has worked on a few fan projects and is clearly passionate about the series. I doubt he was paid for doing those projects.
In the future there will be a Sonic Verse, bringing together the Sonics of each voice actor. Several games consolidating in Sonic Infinite War.
I have a strong suspicion they're gonna try and make Ben Schwartz the voice of Sonic in future games and not just the movies. Though I don't expect Eggman's voice to be replaced (by Jim Carrey or otherwise).
There is only one voice for Sonic the Hedgehog, and that is Jaleel "Steve Urkel" White.
While I do admire his eagerness and passion, It's very unlikely he'll get it. I mean, when auditions were held for new actors at the time before RCS came aboard, he auditioned back then. While getting the part, but because he was part of a union, SEGA told him to quit it to get the role. I dare say, history could repeat itself, but I could be wrong. Just wait and see.
@zool Says the person with a Zool themed profile.
@Goat_FromBOTW 😁
@zool Wait, are you happy? Do you really not like Sonic's voice, or is it a joke about Zool being a failed Sonic rival? Also, which voice do you not like, there are 5+ voice actors for him. Sorry, internet communication is confusing.
@Goat_FromBOTW well Zool did not really have a voice, as far as I remember. Mario is comical, although he doesn't say a lot. Bob Hopkins was the actor who played Mario in the old Mario and Luigi movie.
But in the latest Sonic and some cartoons of Sonic and the odd game that had a talking Sonic, the voice always sounds childish or American teenager'ish. I don't think a talking Sonic is a good idea.
But it's only my opinion, I guess the kids love the cartoons and Movie.
@zool Sonic is supposed to sound like a teen. He’s 15 years old.
There is no such thing as a teenage hedgehog, their average lifespan is 3 to 10 years.
And the Sonic in the games is 30 this year.
Knowing sega they won’t go with what works, when I think of sonic I think of his sonic adventure voice but with sega’s track record I’m not gonna hold my breath
They need to bring back Jaleel White.
Who’s this Bob Hopkins character?
If previous Sonic VA's return, I actually would want the Sonic X VA's to return, as they had to voice the Sonic characters during the most controversial era of Sonic (2005 - 2010). I just believe they should be given a second chance/redemption on their Sonic acting. (I know that the writers were the ones, along with Sega's weird decisions during that time, that caused Sonic to not be good during that timeframe, but I wouldn't want to be the VA for the "worst" era of Sonic and I don't believe those VA's do either).
Also, since the Sonic Adventure VA has asked to return, I want runblebee to ask and see if he can return. He was the Mario & Sonic announcer from 2010 to Sochi 2014 Olympics, and I think he did some other Sonic stuff.
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