Paramount Pictures is prepping “Sonic the Hedgehog 4,” with the studio anticipating a spring 2027 release date for the latest entry in the family-friendly franchise.

The news comes as “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” races into theaters on Friday, where it is expected to top the box office with $55 million to $60 million from 3,800 North American theaters. The sequel is shaping up to be a nice holiday season hit for Paramount, hence the interest in more “Sonic” adventures. Internationally, the film will open in 52 markets on Christmas. Critics have also liked the latest movie, handing “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” an impressive 87% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Together, the first two films have earned a combined global box office total of $725.2 million and driven over $180 million in global consumer spending from home entertainment rentals and digital purchases. They also inspired a spinoff Paramount+ series, “Knuckles,” which came out earlier this year. “Sonic the Hedgehog” is based on the popular video-game franchise from Sega, which first appeared in 1991.

Jeff Fowler has directed all three “Sonic the Hedgehog” films. “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” brings back Jim Carrey as Dr. Ivo Robotnik, Sonic’s main antagonist, and Ben Schwartz as the titular speedster. Carrey does double duty in part three, and also plays Ivo’s grandfather, Gerald Robotnik. The ensemble includes James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey and Keanu Reeves, who plays Shadow the Hedgehog, another fan favorite from the video games.

Plot details on “Sonic the Hedgehog 4” are — you guessed it — being kept under wraps.

‘Sonic the Hedgehog 4’ Full Cast Revealed: Keanu Reeves and Idris Elba Returning Alongside Newcomers Ben Kingsley, Nick Offerman and More

The pair are among the new voice cast members for “Sonic the Hedgehog 4,” the latest adventure for the anthropomorphic speedster, led by Ben Schwartz. (Offerman’s casting makes for a fun “Parks and Recreation” reunion between the two actors.)

The full cast list is as follows: Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, Kristen Bell, Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Ben Kingsley, Matt Berry, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Lee Majdoub, Nick Offerman and Richard Ayoade.

Kristen Bell was recently announced to voice Amy Rose, the pink creature with a major crush on Sonic.

Plot details for the fourth film are under wraps. Other returning cast members include Idris Elba and Colleen O’Shaughnessey, who voice Sonic’s pals Knuckles and Tails, and Keanu Reeves is behind the mysterious Shadow. Meanwhile, in human form, Jim Carrey has portrayed the hedgehog’s main antagonist, Dr. Robotnik; James Marsden and Tika Sumpter play Sonic’s adopted parental figures.

Paramount’s live-action/CGI hybrid film series has proved incredibly lucrative at the global box office, grossing a collective $1 billion. Jeff Fowler has directed all three “Sonic” films, and he returns to helm the next installment of the family-friendly franchise. “Sonic the Hedgehog 4” is set for theatrical release on March 19, 2027.

While not many franchises make it farther than a fourquel — not to mention the spinoff series “Knuckles” for Paramount+ — this seems to be far from the final installment in the popular franchise based on the classic Sega video game. The studio also dated an untitled “Sonic Universe Event Film” on Dec. 22, 2028.