1. Write a brief overall summary of your findings.
Jim Carrey has been featured in the teaser trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 4, including a voice line recorded by the actor which is unique to this trailer implying that he is already participating in recording to at least the extent of recording promotion material.
On James Fowler's, the director of Sonic the Hedgehog 4, instagram he confirmed on March 2nd that filming has begun for the movie. Though there has been no official announcement of which scenes have been filmed or which actors have been participating in those scenes and the very small amount of behind the scenes images have not included images of Jim Carrey.
The claim that Jim Carrey is already filming scenes allegedly comes from Daniel Richtman's Patreon where the post titled 'Sonic 4' is locked behind a $5 paywall so I was unable to view the original source of this claim. I was unable to find much information on Richtman himself or why he would have exclusive information on the filming of Sonic the Hedgehog 4, leading me to believe this claim is not officially backed up.
2. What primary sources did you find (e.g., transcripts, videos of politician speeches, tweets from public figures, scientific studies)? For each source, write at least one or two sentences explaining what you learned. Include all links.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1zhuz3l6SE - Teaser Trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 featuring images of Jim Carrey and a voice line recorded by the actor which is exclusive to this trailer.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DVY8Op1iAA6/?hl=en - James Fowler’s instagram post confirming that Sonic the Hedgehog 4 has begun filming.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/sonic-4-141311527 - Daniel Richtmen’s Patreon post where, allegedly, the claim of Jim Carrey already filming scenes originated, though because of the paywall I am unable to confirm if this claim is indeed in the post.
3. What secondary sources did you find (e.g., newspapers, magazines)? Only use secondary sources if sufficient primary sources are not available. For each source, write at least one or two sentences explaining what you learned. Include all links.
https://www.sonicstadium.org/forums/topic/40001-rumor-jim-carrey-in-sonic-4-currently-shooting-scenes/ - Forum Post that states the claim that Jim Carrey has started filming scenes comes from Daniel Richtman’s Patreon Post.
https://www.facebook.com/sonicstadium/posts/rumor-danielrpk-said-in-his-patreon-that-jim-carrey-is-in-sonicmovie4-and-is-cur/1591316902999917/ - Facebook post which also states the claim that Jim Carrey has started filming scenes comes from Daniel Richtman’s Patreon Post.
https://x.com/fuzeryy1205/status/2033665760959074757 - Tweet that also states the claim that Jim Carrey has started filming scenes comes from Daniel Richtman’s Patreon Post.
I included three different sources for this claim as I was unable to verify it myself due to the paywall.
4. What potential biases or interests might each of your sources have?
Daniel RPK makes money through patreon subscriptions which give access to leaked information about upcoming movies. This gives him incentive to make posts on popular movies featuring information that can’t be found anywhere else, meaning many of his claims cannot be verified. Jim Carrey was a fan-favorite actor in the sonic franchise who has been claiming he will retire for a while now, meaning that information about his possible return in the new Sonic movie is particularly exciting for fans, this gives Richtman an incentive to post information specifically about Jim Carrey in the new Sonic Movie to try to draw in people to pay money to view his posts about this topic.
5. What evidence supports the claim you are fact-checking?
The teaser trailer supports the claim that Jim Carrey is returning for the movie and the original voice line implies that he has already begun work on the movie at least to the extent of recording promotion material.
The instagram post supports the claim that filming has begun for Sonic the Hedgehog 4.
These two pieces of information may be extrapolated to support the claim that Jim Carrey may already be filming scenes as we know that scenes are being filmed and Jim Carrey is already working on the movie, however we have no direct information which can confirm this for sure.
6. What evidence undermines the claim you are fact-checking?
The fact that DanielRPK has a financial incentive to provide exclusive and exciting leaked information about upcoming movies as well as his lack of confirmed connection to the movie undermines his claim that he allegedly makes on his Patreon that Jim Carrey has already begun filming scenes.
7. What happened when you tried contacting the person or group who made the original claim?
I didn’t try to contact DanielRPK on his source for this claim as his position as a leaker means that he most likely cannot legally reveal his sources. (And he also has a financial incentive for his sources remaining unverifiable) If anyone would like to try here is his business email: DanielRPK10@gmail.com
