Sonic will not be gym-shamed in Paramount’s new marketing strategy

Paramount is taking a sassy approach to combating the recent fan backlash related to Sonic the Hedgehog's swole physique for his upcoming big screen family adventure. Just over a week ago, the studio released a teaser poster for the Jeff Fowler-directed live-action/animated hybrid which left fans of the Blue Blur aghast when taking in the iconic character's ultra-buff silhouette. And because the internet is the internet, trolls responded to the tease in kind by creating a series of fake posters mocking the character's new design – for the record, several of them were hilarious. I mean, c'mon, have you seen those legs? What gives? Is every day "leg day" at the gym for Sega's Speed Demon?

Fast-forward to today, and we find Paramount fighting back against the oncoming horde of haters with the release of a new and polarizing poster. As you can see from the tweet posted above, the new print for SONIC THE HEDGEHOG features gaming's Knight of the Wind holding a sign that reads "Can't a guy work out? Be Back next year. <3 Sonic" The image also features – prominently, I might add – Sonic's Muscle Milk-infused legs, looking even more veiny than they did before. I suppose that Paramount is really leaning into this deisgn, eh? I mean, what choice do they have, really? Does "Be Back Next Year" mean that the studio is scrambling to do a re-design of the character before an official trailer is released? I doubt it, but perhaps they're going back to the drawing board in terms of the film's marketing campaign? Either way, Paramount can be sure that fans are watching, and their haunches are already arched.

In a recent interview with IGN, DEADPOOL director Tim Miller came to the defense of Sonic's appearance by telling the outlet, “It was always, for us, fur, and we never considered anything different,” he said. “It’s part of what integrates him into the real world and makes him a real creature.”

Of course, the question now is: What will Jim Carrey's Eggman look like? After all, it's been a while since we've seen the rubber-faced comedian transform into a larger-than-life villain – and Dr. Robotnik isn't exactly a conventional-looking character. Will the internet catch fire the day that his design is revealed? Will a proper trailer to the film force the trolls back under their respective bridges, or will it become open season on hedgehogs, once again? Only time will tell. For now, let's all just enjoy the ride, shall we?

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, starring Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Neal McDonough, and Debs Howard will race into theaters, for better or worse, on November 8, 2019.