Jim Carrey has opened up about his decision to reprise his role in "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," shedding light on his return to the spotlight. This seasoned performer, who has taken a step back from acting and the glitz and glam of Hollywood over the past decade, shared his reasons with the Associated Press during the U.K. premiere of the film on Tuesday. With a grin, he revealed why he chose to revisit his portrayal of the sinister Dr. Robotnik in the upcoming sequel, which is set to hit theaters on December 20.
"I returned to this universe for a couple of reasons," Carrey admitted with a chuckle. "Firstly, I get the chance to play a genius, which is quite a stretch for me. But let's be honest, I've bought a lot of stuff and I need the money. Yeah."
After a storied acting career spanning the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s, the "Ace Ventura" star has become increasingly selective in choosing his projects in recent years. During a 2022 interview with Access Hollywood while promoting "Sonic the Hedgehog 2," he even hinted at retirement.
"I'm being pretty serious here," he said at that time. "It all depends. If the angels bring me a script written in gold ink, telling me it's something truly important for people to see, I might continue. But right now, I'm taking a break."
Even before talks of hanging up his acting shoes, Carrey had already started distancing himself from Hollywood, diverting his attention to other passions, such as honing his skills as a political cartoonist.
"I just didn't want to be in the industry anymore," Carrey confessed to The Hollywood Reporter in 2018. "I didn't like what was happening—corporations taking over and all that. Maybe it's because I was drawn to a different kind of creative expression, and I really enjoyed the freedom of painting—not having a committee telling me what idea would appeal to a broad audience."
In addition to reprising his role as Dr. Robotnik, Carrey also lends his voice to the villain's grandfather, Gerald Robotnik, in "Sonic the Hedgehog 3." The star-studded voice cast also includes Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba, James Marsden, Ben Schwartz, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Adam Pally, and Krysten Ritter.
