Ratings success for new “Knuckles” series on Paramount+

By John Freeman on May 3, 2024

The debut of original event series Knuckles on Paramount+ smashed numerous records over its premiere weekend, the streaming service reports. This includes setting a new global record as the most-watched Paramount+ original series of all time with more than four million hours streamed over premiere weekend.

In addition to its overall record, the series marks Paramount+’s most-watched kids-and-family title ever.

The series launch also had a halo effect on other Sonic the Hedgehog titles on the streaming service, with viewership up more than 278 percent globally over the daily average.

“The Sonic the Hedgehog fans came out in full-force,” said Jeff Grossman, Executive Vice President, Programming, Paramount+. “We’re so thrilled with the record-breaking performance of Knuckles and the incredible lift the whole Sonic universe has experienced following Knuckles‘ premiere.”

Knuckles, a six-episode event series and the latest in the “Cinematic World of Sonic the Hedgehog” from Paramount Pictures and SEGA of America, follows Knuckles (Idris Elba) on a hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade (Adam Pally) as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior. The series takes place between the films Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

In addition to Elba starring as the titular character, Adam Pally reprises as Wade Whipple his role from the film franchise. The ensemble cast includes guest stars Stockard Channing (The West Wing), Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones), Scott Mescudi (Don’t Look Up), Ellie Taylor (Ted Lasso), Julian Barratt (Mindhorn), Rory McCann (Game of Thrones), Cary Elwes (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Paul Scheer (Black Monday), and Rob Huebel (Childrens Hospital).

Special guest star Ben Schwartz reprises his role as Sonic, as well as special guest star Tika Sumpter, reprises her role as Maddie. Colleen O’Shaughnessey also returned as a special guest star in her role as Tails.

All of the key creative team from the previous films have returned for the series, including the films’ director Jeff Fowler, who directed the pilot episode and helped transition the film’s signature cinematic animation style to television, as well as Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, John Whittington, Idris Elba, Haruki Satomi, Shuji Utsumi and Toru Nakahara, who also served as executive producers. Additional directors for the series include Ged Wright, Brandon Trost, Jorma Taccone and Carol Banker.

The series was created for television by John Whittington and Toby Ascher, who ran the show during production. Whittington, who co-wrote Sonic the Hedgehog 2, served as head writer and wrote the pilot for the series. Additional series writers include Brian Schacter and James Madejski.

The combined global box office for Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 stands at $725.2 million. On Paramount+, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the top-performing kids-and-family film on the service in reach and is also one of the service’s most re-watched films.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will be released in cinemas across the UK on 24th December 2024.

In addition to streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the US, Canada, the UK, Latin America, Australia, South Korea, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Japan, Knuckles will stream on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain and Central and Eastern Europe. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

• Watch Knuckles on Paramount+ (Subscription Required)

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.