M3GAN in ‘M3GAN 2.0’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Preview:
M3GAN sacrifices herself at the end of M3GAN 2.0 in order to save Cady.
The door is left open for a trilogy when M3GAN appears on Gemma’s laptop at the end of the film.
Blumhouse can, and should, continue M3GAN’s story with a third movie.
SPOILER ALERT: Spoilers for ‘M3GAN 2.0′ below.
‘M3GAN 2.0‘ sees the return of everyone’s favorite murderous robot, M3GAN, after she is needed to take on a new threat, AMELIA (Ivanna Sakhno). The new robot is government property that is modeled after M3GAN’s plans, but goes rogue creating a crisis.
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After being brought back, M3GAN claims that she never lost her feelings for Cady (Violet McGraw), and is willing to do whatever she needs to in order to earn her forgiveness. In the end, M3GAN sacrifices herself to save Cady, but is that the last fans will see her?
The very end of ‘M3GAN 2.0’ teases the return of M3GAN, making clear that Blumhouse could turn these films into a trilogy should they want to. Moviefone breaks down how this could be done, and if it is a good idea. The character of M3gan is played by Amie Donald and voiced by Jenna Davis.
(L to R) Allison Williams as Gemma and M3GAN in ‘M3GAN 2.0,’ directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
At the end of ‘M3GAN‘, the body of M3GAN was killed but it was then hinted that she had uploaded herself into one of the smart devices so that she could come back at a later time. ‘M3GAN 2.0’ takes place two years later and M3GAN has indeed found a way to return.
She has taken over the new smart home that Gemma (Allison Williams) has rented for her and Cady. M3GAN waits to make her presence known until she is needed when the government breaks into their house to try to bug Gemma’s laptop. It turns out that the plans for M3GAN were used to build AMELIA and after the government aquired this new robot, they learned she was a trojan horse, and went rogue. They need to track down who built AMELIA and what their plans are.
Gemma keeps M3GAN’s return a secret from Cady, but makes a deal with the AI to put her into a body so that she can help. Over these two years M3GAN has evolved and matured, but still has an objective to protect Cady. Gemma, fairly easily, builds M3GAN a new body after coming to terms with the fact that she really does need her help.
‘M3GAN 2.0’ Ending Explained
(from left) M3gan and Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno) in ‘M3GAN 2.0’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
At the end of ‘M3GAN 2.0’ she realizes that she must sacrifice herself in order to save Cady, as well as the rest of the world. AMELIA is too powerful after consuming the knowledge of the Motherboard, who happens to be the first sentient AI. AMELIA would kill all humans if given the chance, even asking M3GAN to join her stating that they are the same.
M3GAN refuses, and sets off a powerful EMP that Gemma had placed in her arm as a precaution while holding onto AMELIA, causing them both to be shut down for good. Or so we think.
The final scene shows Gemma writing a speech in a Word document about what happened when the helpful paperclip we all know pops up to give a suggestion. It doesn’t take long before the clip reveals itself as an animated M3GAN who explains that of course she backed herself up, why wouldn’t she?
How M3GAN Can Come Back For A Third Movie
M3GAN in ‘M3GAN 2.0’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Director Gerard Johnstone, along with his co-writers James Wan and Akela Cooper, were brilliant to leave the door open for more M3GAN. So how could she return in a way that makes sense?
It was already proven in this film that Gemma can quickly and easily build M3GAN a new body. Yes, M3GAN had collected all of the parts that she needed during those two years while she was living in the virtual world, but who is to say that she could not do that again? Especially with Gemma’s help.
M3GAN and Gemma seemed to be getting along by the end of the movie, with both Gemma and Cady sad to see the AI go. If Gemma’s smile when she realizes M3GAN’s consciousness still exists is any indication, she would have no problem bringing her back a second time. Cady would, of course, want to see this as well.
It would be important to shy away from another robot versus robot storyline too quickly, as that has just been done, but revisiting M3GAN’s violent side is not a terrible idea. If the third film where to take place a couple of years down the road, as Cady enters high school, there would be a lot for M3GAN to do. Bullies are brutal at that age. Combine that with Cady potentially starting to date and M3GAN would have a lot of people to keep out of Cady’s life.
Should Blumhouse Make ‘M3GAN’ A Trilogy?
(L to R) Allison Williams and M3GAN in ‘M3GAN 2.0’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
As long as there is a good script that offers a fun time at the movies, there is no reason that ‘M3GAN’ shouldn’t be made into a trilogy. People love her, and for good reason. The first film was a massive success for Blumhouse, which is why they greenlit a sequel so quickly.
There is already going to be a new movie set in the world of M3GAN, ‘Soulm8te‘. However, it is not a direct follow-up by any means. Rather it explores a more adult side of AI and focuses on a relationship that a man has with a lovebot. It seems to be very similar to ‘Companion‘, but perhaps a bit more on the horror side.
Because Blumhouse is already playing around with this world more, a third M3GAN film would be great to see. Delivering another PG-13 campy horror that leans towards a younger audience is an almost guaranteed succes. Fans would certainly eat it up thanks to her sass and fighting skills.
M3GAN in ‘M3GAN 2.0’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Other Movies That’ll Make You Question Your Smart Device
Opening in theaters on June 27th is ‘M3GAN 2.0’, the sequel to Blumhouse horror flick ‘M3GAN‘, which explores the darker side of AI and technology. Gerard Johnstone directs both films.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ivanna Sakhno about joining the cast of ‘M3GAN 2.0’. She discusses learning the fight choreography, playing a robot, her reaction to the script, collaborating with Blumhouse, and discovering that she would be setting the tone for the movie in the opening sequence.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
(from left) M3gan and Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno) in ‘M3GAN 2.0’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your reaction to discovering your scene was going to open the film?
Ivanna Sakhno: I’ll be honest. I found out when I first read the script and it was exciting. It was most exciting when I landed in New Zealand. The first week and a half, we had the chance to play around with physicalityand start learning the stunts. And when I saw what the fight was,and when we were on the ground filming it,I just could tell that it was going to be quite a fun opening sequence.I was excited for it.
MF: Was it difficult learning all the fight choreography?
IS: It was really, really fun and also moving. You get to learn so much about your body and create a physicality of a being. You do so with some of the best professionals in the field. So I got to work with our amazing movement coach, Luke, who is so clocked in. He’s so on top of it and so open to different ideas and seeing how your brain works and how you’re connected to the body. He was immediately, he made me just walk a straight line and immediately was like, okay, so this, this, this, this, he just like read me. It was just really awesome to work with him.
Ivanna Sakhno as Amelia in ‘M3GAN 2.0’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
MF: How would you describe AMELIA for those who know nothing about her?
IS: Amelia is seen as a threat to humanity,which she may be, I’m not gonna lie,but I have to stand up for her a little bitand say that she’s very much somebodywho’s trying to understand her own upbringingand trying to deal with the worldthat is not necessarily open to having her existence be a part of their daily life,obviously for good reasons,but it’s not her fault at all. I thinkthere’s quite a bit of amplitude to her being. In that darkness exists,I think, an immense amount of lightand desire to belong and find compassion from others.
MF: Finally, without spoilers, can you talk about your reaction to the reading AMELIA’s story and the end of the movie?
IS:I think I will be honest,the reaction itself was just to the script. I didn’t expect to be so emotionally moved by it. There were moments whenI found myself tearing up reading it. Discovering Amelia on the page just made me understandthat I really immediately wanted to become part of it. I wanted to tell her story and obviously work with peoplelike Allison and Gerard and Blumhouse, Atomic Monster. I was psyched when I finished reading the script.I just knew that it was going to be a special one. I do genuinely think it is a really fun film.And I hope the audience gets to enjoy itand see it, hopefully in theaters.
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What is the plot of ‘M3GAN 2.0’?
Two years after the robot M3GAN (Amie Donald) embarked on a murderous rampage before being destroyed, her tech has been stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade robot named AMELIA (Ivanna Sakhno), which becomes a threat to human existence. M3GAN’s creator Gemma (Allison Williams) is convinced by her niece Cady (Violet McGraw) that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN and give her a few upgrades so she can defeat AMELIA — or can she?
(from left) M3gan and Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno) in ‘M3GAN 2.0’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
If you think of 2023’s ‘M3GAN’ as ‘The Terminator,’ then ‘M3GAN 2.0’ is in many ways the ‘Terminator 2’ of this budding franchise. By that we mean it’s bigger, more lavishly produced, louder, and more action-packed. And it actually kind of follows the same story beats as ‘Terminator 2’ in its own fashion. But while ‘T2’ is as much of a classic and perhaps even better than its predecessor, we can’t say the same for ‘M3GAN 2.0.’
In its ambition to be a bigger film with something on its mind, yet while trying to retain the campy, comedic tone of the first movie, ‘M3GAN 2.0’ falls into the all-too-familiar trap of accomplishing neither. It’s funny from time to time, with a few good jokes (although not necessarily worthy of the loud performative laughter that bellowed in our theater), and the cast – particularly the tag team of Amie Donald and Jenna Davis as the body and voice of M3GAN, respectively – are all committed to the bit. But the movie doesn’t quite achieve the balance it strives for and ends up becoming more uninteresting and incoherent as it cranks along for nearly two hours.
Story and Direction
Director Gerard Johnstone on the set of ‘M3GAN 2.0’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
‘Terminator 2’ is a good comparison plot-wise here. Whereas the relentless killing machine of ‘The Terminator’ became the good guy in ‘Terminator 2,’ sworn to protect John Connor against an even more formidable and seemingly unstoppable enemy, pretty much the same thing happens in ‘M3GAN 2.0.’ Two years after M3GAN was apparently destroyed by Gemma (Allison Williams) after a murderous rampage in which the android doll killed everyone it deemed a threat to Gemma’s orphaned niece Cady (Violet McGraw), traces of her still linger in their home security system and a little robot in which Gemma has encased her creation’s files. Gemma, meanwhile, has become an activist for reducing the presence of A.I. and smartphones in people’s – especially kids’ – lives.
M3GAN’s original coding, however, has been hacked by persons unknown and developed in another robot, an autonomous military engagement logistics and infiltration android, aka AMELIA (Ivanna Sakhno). But while surreptiously deployed on a black ops mission by U.S. intelligence, AMELIA goes rogue and soon starts killing everyone associated with her creation and that of M3GAN. With Gemma, her assistants Tess (Jen Van Epps) and Cole (Brian Jordan Alvarez), and Cady presumably on that list, they have no choice but to reboot M3GAN into a brand-new cybernetic body and trust her to protect them from AMELIA. But can she be trusted?
In another callout to ‘Terminator 2’ (among additional nods to movies like ‘RoboCop,’‘Ex Machina,’ and others), AMELIA has a Skynet-like desire to cripple human society by taking control of all our electronics, cloud services, and other online capabilities. There is even another artificial intelligence that comes into play in the second half of the movie that can seemingly provide AMELIA with godlike omniscience, although that is one of the many facets of director Gerard Johnstone’s busy, overstuffed script that kind of overloads the movie’s circuit board. There are also government agencies and rival corporate interests involved, although it doesn’t all make sense much of the time.
M3GAN in ‘M3GAN 2.0’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Whereas the first movie was a relatively contained, effective, bracing, and lively blend of horror and camp, ‘M3GAN 2.0’ is all over the place story-wise. Exposition, betrayals, mind-melds, and robotic reboots pile endlessly atop one another in a snarl of narrative threads that would clog up any computer’s cache. It’s hard to keep track of who’s double-crossing who as the movie goes on, and it’s not helped by a particularly weak villain whose reveal is not that surprising but also doesn’t provide the necessary spark to liven things up.
But most importantly, ‘M3GAN 2.0’ is simply not as much fun as the first movie. It’s not as fresh, its plot is derivative as we’ve noted, and the dark hilarity of the first film only comes in fits and spurts here. Johnstone seems to have more trouble balancing the tone this time around, perhaps because his script is not as witty as that of the first film (which was written by Akela Cooper). There are some good lines, some decent violence and action (M3GAN and AMELIA both know how to dispatch people in some pretty bloody ways), and a couple of emotional beats that stick the landing. But when the movie has to contrive a way to work a new dance number for M3GAN into the movie just because they have to call back to that now-classic meme/scene from the first film, you have to wonder why this sequel exists.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Allison Williams as Gemma and Aimie Donald as M3GAN in ‘M3GAN 2.0,’ directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
The non-human characters here are still the main attraction. Amie Donald and Jenna Davis effortlessly recapture both the weird, uncanny valley physicality of M3GAN and her deceptively innocent voice, and the A.I. blurting out “What the f**k is this?” when she first finds herself in a little tabletop robot that looks like a Teletubby is a laugh-out-loud moment. Donald and Davis give an authentic performance together and make M3GAN’s arc believable and even poignant at points.
Ivanna Sakhno (‘Ahsoka’) is both magnetic and chilling as AMELIA, bringing an efficient coldness to the character even if her motivations and self-awareness are one of the murkier aspects of the story. Allison Williams is less the human center of the story this time – this is much more of an ensemble piece – but is confident throughout and does offer some funny moments of her own, as when she implores M3GAN to “not get to the chorus” as the latter begins singing Kate Bush’s ‘This Woman’s Work’ to convince Gemma that she’s actually a good mom.
The rest of the cast range in tone and ability from perfectly fine to just adequate, while Jemaine Clement arrives early to steal every scene he’s in as a debauched, unscrupulous tech billionaire who wants to subsidize Gemma’s latest invention – exosuits to help humans perform physically demanding tasks – and is eager to invest in taking her clothes off as well. He’s one of the film’s more consistent comic bright spots.
Final Thoughts
Ivanna Sakhno as Amelia in ‘M3GAN 2.0’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Shot by cinematographer Toby Oliver, ‘M3GAN 2.0’ is a handsome production indeed, with some sumptuous sets and lighting throughout, while the visual effects team (and animatronics lead Mark Setrakian) bring M3GAN to life around Donald’s performance even more seamlessly and realistically this time, along with AMELIA. The production values here are a step up from the first film and it’s on the screen.
But something got lost along the way, and ‘M3GAN 2.0’ feels more like corporate product than hand-crafted fun like the first film. Gerard Johnstone’s underlying message is a plea to not let A.I. take over our lives and world – ironic given how A.I. even now is snaking its way deeper and deeper into the production of film and TV. Let’s hope that by the time the third film rolls around (and that door is left fully open, by the way), ChatGPT won’t be writing the script on its own. Even the tonal and narrative confusion of ‘M3GAN 2.0’ would be better than that.
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What is the plot of ‘M3GAN 2.0’?
Two years after the robot M3GAN (Amie Donald) embarked on a murderous rampage before being destroyed, her tech has been stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade robot named AMELIA (Ivanna Sakhno), which becomes a threat to human existence. M3GAN’s creator Gemma (Allison Williams) is convinced by her niece Cady (Violet McGraw) that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN and give her a few upgrades so she can defeat AMELIA — or can she?
(L to R) Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba and Ariana Granda is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Preview:
‘Wicked: For Good’, ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ and more were showcased at Universal’s CinemaCon show.
There was news of sequels to the live-action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ and ‘The Bad Guys.’
The likes of Jon M. Chu and Scarlett Johansson were on stage to support their movies.
Universal’s 2024 was successful partly thanks to Jon M. Chu’s musical adaptation ‘Wicked,’ and with follow-up ‘Wicked: For Good’ on the way this year, some of the studio’s focus was always going to be on the movie –– which features two new songs not found in the stage source material.
Beyond that, we were expecting peeks at movies from the studio’s various arms and partners at this year’s CinemaCon presentation, including horror home Blumhouse and DreamWorks Animation, which continues to push the likes of the ongoing ‘Shrek’ franchise and others.
And not forgetting dinosaurs: another jewel in Universal’s crown in the ‘Jurassic Park’/‘Jurassic World’ movies, and with ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ headed to theaters this summer, we’d have been shocked to not see something fresh from that.
(L to R) Luna Blaise and the T-Rex in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Here’s what happened at the studio’s show and tell…
Universal’s big display kicked off sonically, with the company’s President of music and publishing Mike Knobloch introducing Rickey Minor and an all-star orchestra playing a collection of tunes from the studio’s back catalogue –– ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Fast & Furious,’ ‘Despicable Me,’ ‘Jaws’ and even the likes of DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Shrek’ and ‘How to Train Your Dragon,’ with clips from the movies on screens.
And, naturally, last year’s huge smash was among them, with ‘Wicked’ fully represented.
Universal chairman Donna Langley arrived on stage to celebrate the fact that the studio has released more theatrical movies since the pandemic than any other. She bypassed the idea that shrinking theatrical windows were to blame for audiences skipping cinemas.
Pete Levinson, the chairman of Universal distribution took over to essentially praise the company for its $3 billion in grosses last year. And to remind us all that ‘Wicked: For Good’ is on the way in November.
Scarlett Johansson as skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Noted dino fan Johansson related how she’s tried to get cast in all three previous ‘Jurassic World’ movies without success, eventually collaring Steven Spielberg to plead her case.
Edwards joked she was probably too expensive for the films –– which didn’t seem to sit well with Scarlet (probably all in good fun?)
The director also recalled watching the original ‘Jurassic Park’ as a kid (10 times in a day!) and how much of an honor it is direct this talented cast in a ‘Jurassic’ movie. He dropped mention that Mahershala is an Oscar winner, to which Ali comically corrected him that he has two!
Mahershala Ali is Duncan Kincaid in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.
‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ filmed in Thailand, with Johansson recalling many “pinch me’ moments on set and on location.
The trio introduced some fresh footage from the movie –– some of it unfinished. Mahershala said he’d seen it, to which Scarlet joked she was supposed to see everything first per her contract.
As for the footage, it largely tracked what we saw in the first trailer, with Johansson’s specialist leading a team to an abandoned ‘Jurassic Park’ staging island to retrieve genetic material to source lifegiving medical cures. A new hybrid dino we’ve yet to meet
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‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ stomps into theaters on July 2nd.
(from left) Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Bad Guys 2’, directed by Pierre Perifel. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Following their short before ‘Dog Man,’ the ‘Bad Guys’ crew will be properly back on our screen later this year.
(from left) Hiccup (Mason Thames) and Stoick (Gerard Butler) in Universal Pictures’ live- action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, written and directed by Dean DeBlois. Photo: Universal Pictures.
The live-action/CG take on the tale (which screened earlier in the day at the event to generally great acclaim) had stars Gerard Butler and Nico Parker on stage alongside director Dean DeBlois to talk it up.
They also announced that a sequel has already been greenlit, and that that one will fly into theaters on June 11th, 2027.
Butler was also given the chance to set the orchestra playing some of John Powell’s recognizable score.
‘How to Train Your Dragon’s live-action remake will be flying into cinemas on June 13th.
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The whistlestop presentation moved onto…
‘HIM’
Produced by Jordan Peele, the blend of sports story and horror sees a promising young football player joining an isolated compound to train under a dynasty team’s aging quarterback.
Bob Odenkirk in ‘Nobody.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
The sequel to the 2021 Bob Odenkirk-starring action movie showcased its first trailer, full of more bone-crunching action, with Sharon stone joining the cast. The story this time finds Hutch Parker (Odenkirk) taking the family on vacation, only to run afoul of Stone’s criminal organization. Cue vengeance!
The movie hits cinemas on August 15th.
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Next, it was the turn of Focus Features…
Focus chairman Peter Kujawski took the stage to hype his studio arm’s upcoming titles and say that every film by the company is made for theatrical.
Toy Freddy in ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’, directed by Emma Tammi. Photo: Universal Pictures. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures Toy Freddy in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, directed by Emma Tammi. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures
The orchestra struck up music of the video game adaptation, which heralded one of the animatronic characters (well, a suit based on them) striding on stage.
After some confusion as to how to remove the head, it turned out to be company boss Jason Blum, who joked he so loves to save money that he was in the costumes the whole time for the original movie.
The original ‘Freddy’s is Blumhouse’s biggest hit of all time, so of course the sequel is already in the works. Blum also apologized for the decision to make that movie day and date on Peacock, so this follow-up will be cinemas only upon release.
And that release? December 5th.
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Blum also cued up a teaser, which sees the return of Josh Hutcherson’s Mike and more animatronic chaos.
Ethan Hawke as The Grabber in ‘The Black Phone,’ directed by Scott Derrickson.
Not done with the costume theatrics, Blum arrived back on stage in a Grabber mask to offer that the sequel to Scott Derrickson’s 2021 kidnap horror thriller will be in theaters on October 17th.
Actor Madeleine McGraw, who returns for the new movie (and is CinemaCon 2025 Rising Star of the Year), joined Blum on stage to talk about the movie, which is Derrickson’s first-ever sequel.
We were treated to a first look trailer for the new movie. The footage finds the two kids (played by McGraw and Mason Thames) dealing with the repercussions of the first movie. Ethan Hawke’s Grabber is back –– even though he died –– but we only hear his voice in the trailer.
‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ director James Wan at CinemaCon 2022. Photos by Eric Charbonneau.
Atomic Monster boss James Wan –– whose company has formed a creative partnership with Blumhouse –– came on stage to talk up ‘Soulm8te,’ which if it sounds like a more grown up take on ‘M3GAN’ (or really, ‘Companion,’ with its story of a female robo-partner who turns out to be an issue), that’s because it’s set in the same universe as the devious doll.
‘Soulm8te’s first look played, followed by word of a January 2md. 2026 release.
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And then…
2026 Universal Preview
‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ will open in theaters on April 7, 2023.
Jim Orr, the studio’s president of theatrical distribution, came on stage to discuss even further in the future. To coin a phrase, more sequels!
He confirmed the likes of ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie 2′ (April 2026), ‘Minions 3’ (July 2026) and ‘Shrek 5‘ (yes, featuring Zendaya in a voice role, arriving Christmas 2026).
But there are originals too, including Christopher Nolan’s epic ‘The Odyssey’ (July 2026) and a certain Mr. Steven Spielberg’s still-to-be-titled new event movie, which will arrive in June 2026.
Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu.
To the strains of ‘Defying Gravity,’ the presentation wrapped with ‘Wicked’ stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande taking the stage –– and, yes, referring to holding space as per the viral interview meme –– to discuss the follow-up, and thank theater owners for their support.
They were joined by producer Marc Platt and director Jon M. Chu, who joked that this is the third year his movie(s) have closed out a Universal CinemaCon presentation.
Chu quipped:
“It all worked out!”
(Center L to R) Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba), Director Jon M. Chu, and Ariana Granda (as Glinda) on the set of ‘Wicked’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Getting serious to discuss how the new movie follows the ramifications of the young women’s choices from the original.
We got a first look at the movie via an extended trailer, which finds Glinda and Elphaba meeting again after some time has passed since the end of ‘Wicked.’
Elphaba uses her powers to write, The Wizard of Oz Lies!” in the sky, while we get our first clear look at Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion.
‘Wicked: For Good’ soars on to screens on November 21st.
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And with that… Universal was done for CinemaCon 2025!
Ariana Grande is Glinda in ‘Wicked’, directed by Jon M. Chu. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Even before ‘M3GAN’ arrived in theaters the titular doll-sized android has become a cult figure. Between her dance moves and her murders, she’s a new pint-sized horror icon joining the likes of Chucky and Annabelle.
Given its thrifty budget (boosted by backers Blumhouse from their usual $5 million tier to around $12 million), the movie’s more than $95 million global box office haul since its January 6th debut means it is handily in profit already.
It’s almost a no brainer, then, that Blumhouse and co-producers Atomic Monster (James Wan’s company) would look to get a sequel in the works as soon as possible, with ‘M3GAN 2.0’ now on the calendar. And that’s despite Blumhouse boss Jason Blum’s usual reticence for jumping the gun on sequels. “After I first saw the movie, we had a good sense that a sequel might really work,” he told Variety a few days ago. “So, we broke our cardinal rule and we started talking about a sequel before the movie was released. I felt so bullish that we started entertaining a sequel earlier than we usually do.”
‘M3GAN’ in case you’ve yet to see it, tells the story of tech toy creator Gemma (Allison Williams) who designs M3GAN (Model 3 Generative Android), who can listen, watch and learn as it plays the role of friend and teacher, playmate and protector.
When Gemma becomes the unexpected caretaker of her 8-year-old niece, (Violet McGraw’s Cady, orphaned in a tragic accident) she decides to give the girl a M3GAN prototype (brought to life by a combo of actress/dancer Amie Donald, the voice of Jenna Davis and some CG additions), a decision that leads to unimaginable consequences. Murder bot consequences. There, we imagined it for you.
In short, M3GAN, who pledges to protect Cady at all costs, starts a campaign of terror against anyone who dares threaten the girl. Soon, kids are being lured into traffic, others are stabbed and it’ll be up to Gemma and Cady to shut down the killing spree. It’s campy, often hilarious horror.
We won’t give away here exactly what happens in the big finale but suffice to say there are hints that M3GAN could return––whether it’s in her doll form or some other way. The joy of being an AI for her is that she can go anywhere she wants and the possibilities are endless.
The challenge of figuring all that out now rests with writer Akela Cooper, who worked on the first film’s story alongside Wan and wrote the eventual script. Williams and McGraw will both return in front of the camera, but there’s no news yet on whether director Gerard Johnstone is coming back for more M3GAN madness.
It’s yet another success for the Blumhouse team, which has gained a real reputation for low-budget horror hits and is currently exploring a merger with Wan’s Atomic Monster company, itself no slouch in the scary franchise department.
Universal has dated ‘M3GAN 2.0’ for January 17th, 2025.
