THE CRUNCH
Sega nearly cancelled the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise before the 2020 live-action movie, according to series creative officer Takashi Iizuka. He revealed that executives urged him to kill the IP during its worst periods, requiring him to fight internally to keep it alive. The 2020 film is credited as the franchise's biggest milestone and a turning point.
Iizuka stated that Sega's higher-ups repeatedly suggested cancelling the entire franchise during its low points, forcing him to battle within the organisation to preserve it. The creative officer credits the 2020 live-action movie as the franchise's biggest milestone, noting that its success changed the course of the series.