Jim Carrey says he did “Sonic 3” because 'I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money'

Jim Carrey has revealed just what motivated him to reprise his role as the villainous Dr. Robotnik in the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 — and it has nothing to with the awesome facial hair.

"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," he told the Associated Press in a video shared Tuesday on social media. "And, you know, it's just I bought a lot of stuff, and I need the money, frankly."

The funnyman had previously said he would only return to the franchise, which features live-action adaptations of the Sega video game, or any acting project only if he received a script "written in gold ink by angels." He said he was "fairly serious" about leaving the profession or at least "taking a break," he told Access Hollywood after the 2022 release of the second Sonic.

"I feel like — and this is something you might never hear another celebrity say as long as time exists — I have enough. I've done enough," he said. "I am enough."

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He did seem emotional at the time, but Carrey is the same guy who brought audiences Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Dumb and Dumber, so it's not always clear when he's being serious.

Related: How Sonic 3 went bigger with Shadow's origin story and 2 Jim Carreys: 'Everything is pumped up' (exclusive)

This time around, he not only played his usual character, Dr. Ivo Robotnik, but also a second Robotnik, who is that character's grandfather. The new part meant twice as much work and many more hours in the makeup chair, but director Jeff Fowler told EW last month that Carrey's willingness to play both parts was key.

"I don't know what we would've done," Fowler said. "I don't even want to think about this."

Since Carrey broke through with those big ’90s comedies, he's become a staple of family movies, including holiday favorites How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Disney's A Christmas Carol.

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