First Sonic the Hedgehog poster has divided fans

A first look at the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog film has been released, teasing the beloved video-game character's new look.

While the poster only shows the outline of Sonic's new appearance, the internet has already had a strong reaction to the character's apparent muscular and humanoid form.

"I think there has been no greater misstep in human history than the animators of this film deciding Sonic should have humanoid proportions and muscular limbs. It looks horrific in ways I can't describe," one Twitter user wrote.

The film's production team has attempted a more realistic version of the blue hedgehog, adding fur, replacing his running shoes, and giving him two separate eyes.

Executive producer Tim Miller told IGN: “It would be weird and it would feel like he was running around nude if he was some sort of otter-like thing. It was always, for us, fur, and we never considered anything different. It’s part of what integrates him into the real world and makes him a real creature."

“I don’t think SEGA was entirely happy with the eye decision, but these sorts of things you go, ‘It’s going to look weird if we don’t do this.’ But everything is a discussion, and that’s kind of the goal, which is to only change what’s necessary and stay true to the rest of it. He’s not going to feel like a Pixar character would because I don’t think that’s the right aesthetic to make it feel like part of our world.”

The film will mark the directorial debut of visual effects artist Jeff Fowler, with Ben Schwartz providing the voice of Sonic and Jim Carrey playing the character's nemesis, Dr Robotnik.

James Marsden will also star as Tom Wachowski, the newly appointed sheriff of Green Hills who befriends Sonic and aids him in his quest to stop Robotnik, who has plans for world domination.

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