How to Watch 'Knuckles': Stream the Sonic the Hedgehog Spinoff Show From Anywhere - CNET

While fans still have a wait in store for a third Sonic the Hedgehog film (now tipped to feature Keanu Reeves, no less, as Shadow), the good news is that a star-packed spinoff is about to hit TV screens with the release of Knuckles. 

Taking place between the second and third Sonic movies, the six-episode series once again melds live-action with CGI lead characters and follows Sonic's spiky sidekick, Knuckles, as he embarks on a personal adventure after reluctantly agreeing to train Wade (played by Adam Pally) in the fighting style of the Echidna warriors.

Idris Elba will once again be providing Knuckles' deep voice with the British actor reprising his role from the Sonic 2 movie, while there's the promise of guest appearances from Colleen O'Shaughnessey as Tails and Ben Schwartz as the iconic blue hedgehog. The cast also features Tika Sumpter, Stockard Channing, Kid Cudi, Edi Patterson, Ellie Taylor (Ted Lasso), Rory McCann and Cary Elwes.

Read on to find out how to watch Knuckles, no matter where you are in the world.

Paramount Plus/CNET

When is the release date for Knuckles?

All six episodes of Knuckles will premiere in the US and Canada on Friday, April 26, via Paramount Plus. The show is set to hit the streaming service in most other territories around the world, including the UK and Australia, the following day. Japan is seemingly the exception, with the show not set to hit the region until later in the year. 

How to watch Knuckles from anywhere on VPN

So, what if you're traveling outside your home country and want to enjoy the show or want an added layer of privacy for streaming? There is an option that doesn't require searching the internet for a sketchy website: You can use a VPN, or virtual private network.

With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the show. If you find yourself unable to watch locally, a VPN can come in handy. Plus, it's a great idea for when you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

Most VPNs, like CNET's Editors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it easy to virtually change your location. Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals.

Watch Knuckles in the US, Canada, UK and Australia

Knuckles is exclusive to streaming service Paramount Plus. Retro gaming fans around the globe will be pleased to hear that the new adventures featuring Sonic's buddy will also be available to watch in Australia, the UK and Canada as well as the US via Paramount Plus. 

Tips for streaming Knuckles using a VPN

With four variables at play -- your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN -- experience and success may vary. If you don't see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the "search for city or country" option. If you're having trouble viewing after you've turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log in to your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs -- like Roku -- don't have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you'll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you're using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location. All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a network's app, you'll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.  And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you're using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.