The Apocalypse Now Easter Egg You May Not Have Noticed In Sonic The Hedgehog
People sometimes forget that the creatives behind family films aren't also the same age as the children who will fall in love with their work, and in fact have their own collection of personal favorite films that aren't always kid-friendly. Patrick Casey and Josh Miller are the screenwriting team behind the "Sonic the Hedgehog" movie, and will be joined by John Whittington of "The Lego Batman Movie" and "The Lego Ninjago Movie" for the sequel, "Sonic the Hedgehog 2." Casey and Miller are frequent collaborators, having penned the scripts for "National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze," "Golan the Insatiable," and the "School Spirit" entry of Hulu's "Into the Dark."
It's also pretty common practice for family friendly films to sneak in jokes or references for the adults in the audience, ones that should theoretically fly over the heads of little ones (unless you had parents like mine that didn't censor your content and therefore was a weird 9-year-old who completely understood Buzz' wings flying open in "Toy Story 2" upon seeing Jessie was a boner joke). During an online watch party for "Sonic the Hedgehog," screenwriter Patrick Casey pointed out that there's a hidden reference to "Apocalypse Now" in the post-credits scene, something that (hopefully) no kid could possibly clock.
#SonicWatchParty Robotnik shaving his head with that piece of metal is an homage to Marlon Brandon in Apocalypse Now, a movie with which all small children are obviously familiar. Fun fact!
— Pat Casey (@Pat_Kc) April 4, 2020
Yes, Casey obviously meant "Brando." Autocorrect is a cruel mistress. Don't @ him.
"I've Never Seen Apocalypse Now, Please Explain The Reference" - You, Maybe.
Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" is a psychological war epic in which Marlon Brando plays U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel Walter E. Kurtz during the Vietnam War. Kurtz has completely lost it, going rogue and waging guerrilla warfare and commanding a militia of American and Montagnard troops who view him as a sort of demigod. When Kurtz finally comes face to face with Captain Benjamin L. Willard, the man tasked with the mission to assassinate him, he is introduced partially lit, his bald head illuminated by fire. Brando delivers a monologue to Willard and begins to wash his hands, face, and bald head before pushing through the darkness and showing his face.
Paramount Pictures
In "Sonic the Hedgehog," Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik has been banished to the Mushroom Planet, scavenging in complete isolation and driven totally insane, but believing himself to be of sound mind. He is seen washing his hands and shaving his now bald head in a puddle of water, achieving his trademark form of "Dr. Eggman," with the close-up shot similarly imitating the reveal of Kurtz in "Apocalypse Now." It's a definite blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference, or an elaborate troll sparked by Casey just to watch movie dorks lose their minds. Regardless, it's a fun little homage if true, but still doesn't beat the best Easter egg in the movie ...that title belongs to Sanic.