Idris Elba and Keanu Reeves, two of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures, have lent their distinctive voices to the latest installment of the “Sonic the Hedgehog” franchise. Elba reprises his role as the powerful Knuckles, while Reeves makes his debut as the iconic Shadow the Hedgehog.

Elba, known for his powerful presence in films like “The Wire” and “Luther,” has embraced the role of Knuckles, finding confidence in his portrayal of the character. He explained, “I kind of know what he’s doing. And we’ve sort of started to understand what makes Knuckles tick, how he speaks, whether he has a sense of humor or not.”

The casting of Keanu Reeves as Shadow was met with widespread approval from fans. Elba shared his initial reaction to hearing Reeves’s voice as Shadow: “It was weird. I was like, ‘Keanu?’ He’s got such a distinctive cadence. But it’s great. I’m saying, I think he’s an icon as an actor, but his voice is really distinctive, and I just think, to your point, it just really works with Shadow.”

Interestingly, Elba and Reeves previously collaborated on the video game “Cyberpunk 2077,” though they did not have the opportunity to work together directly during the game’s development.

Looking ahead, Elba expressed interest in potentially reprising his role as Solomon Reed in a future film adaptation of “Cyberpunk 2077.” He acknowledged the depth and complexity of the character and the potential for further exploration within the “Cyberpunk” universe.