Jim Carrey on Not Retiring: 'I Need the Money, Frankly'

Jim Carrey says his prior comments about a potential retirement “might’ve been hyperbole” ahead of the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

In the film, returning director Jeff Fowler again helms a story in which Carrey stars as Dr. Ivo Robotnik, a.k.a. Eggman. This marks Carrey’s third time in the role, starting with the inaugural Sonic back in 2020.

In a red carpet interview for the Associated Press, Carrey was playfully pressed about his 2022 remarks regarding an imminent-seeming retirement, or at least a substantial break. Carrey couldn’t help but laugh when reminded of his past statement to Access Hollywood about possibly changing his mind if “angels” were to provide him with a script “written in gold ink.” Per Carrey, whose most recent non-Sonic film role was 2016’s Dark Crimes, the nature of his Robotnik character proved tempting, as did the financial benefits of returning for a third entry in the franchise.

“That might’ve been hyperbole,” Carrey told AP. “But yeah, I came back to this universe because, first of all, I get to play a genius which is a bit of a stretch. And it’s just, I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly.”

In 2022, Carrey did indeed tell Kit Hoover that he was looking at “retiring,” though not necessarily permanently.

“I’m being fairly serious, yeah,” he said at the time. “It depends if, you know, the angels bring some sort of script that’s written in gold ink that says to me that it’s gonna be really important for people to see. I might continue down the road but I’m taking a break.”

Further detailing his state of mind at that moment in his life, Carrey pointed to his painting and his spirituality as being more than enough for him.

“This is something you might never hear another celebrity say as long as time exists, [but] I have enough,” he said. “I’ve done enough. I am enough.”

The latest Sonic is out Dec. 20.