Warning: Contains potential SPOILERS for Sonic the Hedgehog 3!
The G.U.N. organization is one of the most significant additions to Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and here is everything there is to know about the militarized group, including its backstory, connection to Shadow the Hedgehog, and more. Known officially as the Guardian Units of Nations, G.U.N. is one of the most powerful bodies in the Sonic the Hedgehog universe, with the group’s incarnation in the live-action movie series not being far off from its appearance in the games. So, here’s what to expect from G.U.N. in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and beyond.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is almost here, and after two movies that have already slowly added in elements from the video games, the upcoming sequel is taking things even further by adapting the story of Sonic Adventure 2. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will introduce the story of Project Shadow, leading to the appearance of Keanu Reeves’ Shadow the Hedgehog, as well as adding new characters like Maria and Gerald Robotnik. The Guardian Units of Nations plays a major role in this dark Sonic the Hedgehog story, so here is everything that there is to know about the organization.
The Guardian Units Of Nations Formed After Sonic The Hedgehog
In Response To The San Francisco Incident
The origins of the Guardian Units of Nations differ in the Sonic the Hedgehog movies when compared to the video game series, with them being fairly new by the time that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 starts. G.U.N. was founded between the events of Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, with it being a governmental organization that was created in response to Sonic and Dr. Robotnik’s battle in San Francisco. After the events of the film’s climax, the government realized that they needed a way to protect Earth from interplanetary threats, leading to the founding of G.U.N.
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Although G.U.N. started out as an organization that was focused on capturing Sonic and other potential alien lifeforms, it quickly became much bigger than that. G.U.N. soon also began helping defend Earth from threats at home, such as the villainy of Dr. Robotnik. After making their debut in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, G.U.N. is seen attempting to fight back against Robotnik’s plan with the Master Emerald, with them eventually even siding with Sonic after having spent much of the movie attempting to catch him. Thus, they now defend against anything that is powerful or supernatural, regardless of its planetary origins.
G.U.N.’s Role In The Sonic The Hedgehog Video Games Compared To The Movies
They Are More Antagonistic In The Games
There are some key differences between the Guardian Unit of Nations that is seen in the Sonic the Hedgehog movies and the Sonic the Hedgehog video games. In the games, G.U.N. was not founded to protect from alien incidents. Instead, they were founded as an effort to control domestic conflicts and major criminals, with the group existing for at least fifty years before the events of Sonic Adventure 2. G.U.N. is also shown to be a much larger group in the video games, with them being deployed all across the Earth in the story of the Shadow the Hedgehog video game.
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In the video game franchise, the Guardian Unit of Nations isn’t portrayed as nearly as heroic and virtuous as they are in the movies. Since G.U.N. is led by Commander Walters in the movies, the group is seen as more of an ally to Team Sonic. In the games, however, they are much more morally gray, with them playing antagonistic roles in several major Sonic the Hedgehog stories. In Sonic Adventure 2, it is even revealed that G.U.N. troops shot a very young Maria Robotnik, a story that may be getting adapted in Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
How G.U.N. Connects To Shadow The Hedgehog
They Took Down Project Shadow
The Guardian Units of Nations’ biggest story in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has to do with its role in the destruction of Project Shadow. Fifty years before the events of Sonic Adventure 2, Professor Gerald Robotnik was on board the Space Colony ARK as the head of Project Shadow. Project Shadow was a top-secret project put on by the United Federation that had the goal of achieving immortality, with Gerald Robotnik creating Shadow the Hedgehog as a result of this research. However, after Shadow’s creation, G.U.N. decided that the project had to be shut down.
G.U.N. created a public story about a fake virus that had infected the ARK, with them blaming Gerald Robotnik for it. They raided the ARK, hoping to arrest many of its inhabitants. The group successfully arrested Gerald, but things weren’t so fortunate for his granddaughter Maria. While she was helping Shadow escape, a G.U.N. soldier shot and killed her, with her using her last breaths to send Shadow to Earth. G.U.N. then covered up the incident, took Gerald Robotnik to Prison Island, and forced him to continue his research.
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Eventually, G.U.N. apprehended Shadow and placed him in suspended animation on Prison Island. Unknown to G.U.N., Gerald Robotnik rigged the abandoned ARK to crash into Earth and destroy humanity as revenge for Maria’s death. Gerald Robotnik programmed Shadow to help achieve this plan, although Gerald was eventually executed before this could happen. Later, Gerald’s grandson Ivo Robotnik discovered Shadow’s existence, with him breaking Shadow out of Prison Island and using the Ultimate Lifeform for his own evil plans.
What G.U.N. Wants In The Sonic The Hedgehog Movies
Why Are They Interested In Project Shadow?
G.U.N.’s true plans in the Sonic the Hedgehog movies haven’t been revealed yet, but if the video games are anything to go by, they will be far from noble. The post-credits scene of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 revealed that G.U.N. has discovered Project Shadow, meaning that they will likely attempt to destroy it in a similar way that they did in Sonic Adventure 2. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has already shown Gerald Robotnik, Maria, Shadow, and the Space Colony ARK, meaning that the film could directly adapt this video game storyline.
It hasn’t yet been revealed what G.U.N. wants with Project Shadow decades after it was created, as G.U.N. in the movies wasn’t around to shut it down 50 years ago. It is possible that G.U.N. is just learning of the existence of Gerald and Shadow the Hedgehog, with them capturing both characters and holding them on Prison Island in an attempt to keep Earth safe. Either way, it seems likely that G.U.N. will take on a role that is far more morally gray in the story of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the sequel to the 2022 comedy-adventure movie that featured the Blue Blur and his companions on an adventure to stop Dr. Robotnik from taking over the world. The new film sees the new antagonist Shadow the Hedgehog, arriving to cause trouble for the newly formed trio of heroes, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, as they adjust to their earthly lives.
