Jim Carrey Gives Candid Reason for Why He Took 'Sonic 3' Paycheck
Jim Carrey is reprising his role of Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, premiering later this month. But his involvement in the third film in the blockbuster franchise comes after he claimed that he was retiring from acting following the second film. But at least he's honest about his motivations.
Speaking with the Associated Press this week, Carrey was asked about how he famously said that he would only take on another role if the script was "written in gold ink," causing him to have to somewhat eat his words.
"That might have been hyperbole," the 62-year-old admitted. "You know, I came back to this universe because, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch. And, you know, it's just—I bought a lot of stuff, and I need the money, frankly."
Jim Carrey explains his return to playing Dr. Robotnik in "Sonic the Hedgehog 3": "I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly." pic.twitter.com/pIFJPuAyRM
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) December 10, 2024
Carrey claimed he was retiring in a March 2022 Access Hollywood interview, just before the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Even before the first Sonic the Hedgehog film came out in 2020, it had been four years since he had appeared in a big screen project.
"Well, I’m retiring. Yeah, probably. I’m being fairly serious," Carrey said at the time. "It depends. If the angels bring some sort of script that’s written in gold ink that says to me that it’s going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I’m taking a break."
"I really like my quiet life and I really like putting paint on canvas and I really love my spiritual life and I feel like—and this is something you might never hear another celebrity say as long as time exists—I have enough," he added. "I’ve done enough. I am enough."
Be that as it may, but Carrey was rumored to have pulled in $12 million for Sonic 3, which goes without saying, can buy "a lot of stuff." The movie hits theaters on Dec. 20, 2024, and you can watch the trailer below.