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?
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
Another Halloween is upon us and with it brings another season of Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, which takes place at Universal Studios Orlando August 30th – November 3rd.
Beginning in 1991, Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights has become the world’s premier Halloween event. This year’s event will include 10 terrifying haunted houses based on popular films like ‘A Quiet Place’, ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’, and ‘Insidious’. The event will also include houses based on original ideas like ‘Major Sweets Candy Factory’, ‘Triplets of Terror’ and ‘Goblin’s Feast’.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
This year’s event will also introduce two new hosts of horror, Sinist3r and Surr3al, who are reigning the streets of Universal Studios Florida and unleashing horror within five scare zones including ‘Duality of Fear’, ‘Torture Faire’ and ‘Enter the Blumhouse’, which features characters from Blumhouse movies like ‘The Black Phone’ and ‘M3gan’. The massive event also includes new themed food and beverages and an energetic live show called ‘Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus’.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of traveling to Universal Studios Orlando to enjoy the opening night of Halloween Horror Nights 2024 firsthand and experience all the scares and spookiness they have prepared for visitors this year.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
Be prepared to silence your screams in the new ‘A Quiet Place’ house, which is based on director John Krasinski’s ‘A Quiet Place’ and ‘A Quiet Place Part II’.
Here is the official synopsis:
Fans will relive the tension that will come to life in iconic scenes from the first two films, from traveling through the farmhouse that serves as the Abbott family’s shelter and stepping into the root cellar where Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) escapes to give birth as one of the creatures closes in. Mirroring the silence in the films, the haunted house will embrace unique sound design, special effects and will incorporate the use of American Sign Language (ASL) for the first time ever at Halloween Horror Nights.
While the attraction does not incorporate elements of the recent box office hit ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’, it does follow the characters from the original film and includes lots of alien scares.
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‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
Based on the events of the most recent installment of the franchise, the ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ house follows an ancient artifact that unleashes an evil force that threatens to destroy the world.
Here is the official synopsis:
‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ will transport fans of the film franchise to New York City where the Spengler family teams up with the original Ghostbusters who are now at the helm of a top-secret research lab for their ghost-busting enterprise. With the daunting discovery of an old relic that has set free the vengeful spirit of Garraka, who threatens to freeze everyone to death, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their city and save the world from a second Ice Age.
While the haunted house follows the story of ‘Frozen Empire’ very closely, it also includes Easter eggs from other ‘Ghostbuster’ movies including Slimer from the original and Vigo the Carpathian (Wilhelm von Homburg) from ‘Ghostbusters II’.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
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‘Insidious: The Further’
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
Produced by Blumhouse Productions in association with Sony Pictures, ‘Insidious’ tells the disturbing story of the Lamberts, a family haunted by evil supernatural forces after their son slips into an inexplicable comatose state after becoming possessed by a demonic entity.
In the all-new Halloween Horror Nights haunted house, guests will follow in the footsteps of the Lamberts, encountering familiar settings and scares as they are transported directly into “The Further” – the ethereal place where ghosts and demons lurk.
Here is the official synopsis:
Guests’ journey into ‘Insidious: The Further’ begins as they step through the iconic red door, where many of the tormented spirits and demons from the franchise await – determined to ensnare humans and steal their souls. Fans will come face-to-face with The Red-Faced Demon, who will attempt to lure them into his lair; the grim KeyFace, hoping to lock his victims in this dark dimension; the ghastly and dangerous Bride in Black; and the vengeful spirit of the Man Who Can’t Breathe. As guests make their way through the haunted house, they’ll go from red door to red door – traveling deeper into a dark and timeless astral world where they must evade this collection of sinister creatures at every spine-chilling turn, or their souls will be trapped here…forever.
‘Insidious: The Further’ is one of the scariest new houses at the attraction and incorporates elements from the entire franchise including the recent movie, ‘The Red Door’.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
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Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines
Based on classic Universal Monsters like Dracula and Frankenstein, this new house is based on an original story including female Monster characters like Saskia Van Helsing, She-Wolf, the Bride of Frankenstein and Dracula’s Daughter.
Here is the official synopsis:
Fans will encounter Saskia Van Helsing, a new fearless huntress. She faces off with Dracula’s daughter, Countess Marya, who arose from the dead to seek revenge for her father and destroy the Van Helsing bloodline. With a mission to kill, Dracula’s daughter, from 1936’s ‘Dracula’s Daughter’, forms a deadly alliance with the She-Wolf, inspired by the 1946 film ‘She-Wolf of London’, and Anck- Su-Namun, from the 1932 film ‘The Mummy’ – only to be intercepted by Saskia and an unlikely ally, ‘The Bride of Frankenstein’. The terrifying adventure will take guests on a journey between the hunted and the hunters in a life and death battle with only one bloodline left to survive.
Emmy-nominated composer Sara Barone created an original score for this all-new haunted house, which also features a performer on a zipline.
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Other Haunted Houses
The event also includes several original haunted houses such as ‘Slaughter Sinema 2’, which takes place at a Drive-in, and ‘Goblin’s Feast’, which simulates a Goblin’s Thanksgiving dinner where the human visitors are the main course.
‘Major Sweets Candy Factory’ finds its candy transforming kids into candy-coated killers and is like a demonic version of ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’, while ‘The Museum: Deadly Exhibits’ features a rotten stone that possesses the museum and all the artifacts inside it.
Finally, ‘Monstrous: The Monsters of Latin America’ features creatures like Tlahuelpuchi, La Lechuza and El Silbón, while ‘Triplets of Terror’ tells an original story of the Barmy triplets, who murdered their parents on their birthday and kill a new family every year to celebrate.
Scare Zones
This year’s event will introduce two new hosts of horror, SINIST3R and SURR3AL, who are reigning the streets of Universal Studios Florida and unleashing all the horror that awaits within five scare zones, which are interactive areas within the park.
‘Enter the Blumhouse’
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
The only Scare Zone based off an IP, ‘Enter the Blumhouse’ includes characters from ‘The Purge’, ‘The Black Phone’, ‘Freaky’ and ‘M3gan’. The area also has a “dance party” vibe and was one of the most populated zones during our opening night visit.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
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Other Scare Zones
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
‘Duality of Fear’ allows visitors to choose a path to follow either Sinist3r or Surr3al, with the former taking you to Sinist3r’s ‘Torture Faire’ or the latter bringing you to Surr3al’s ‘Demon Queens’ zone, where four merciless queens rule the otherworldly hellscape. Finally, we have ‘Swamp of the Undead’, which allows guests to wander onto private property where they are surrounded by zombies born from the bodies of former trespassers.
Live Shows and Food
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
This year’s new live show, which runs nightly, is entitled ‘Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus’. The experience is set inside a dark circus and is full of pyrotechnics and aerialists flying to the beat of rock rhythms.
Finally, Universal Studios Orlando is offering several Halloween Horror Nights themed food and beverage’s including Pork Carniceria (‘Monstrous: The Monsters of Latin America’), Mini Stay-Puft S’mores (‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’), Abbott’s Farm Corn Chowder (‘A Quiet Place’) and returning fan- favorites like Twisted Taters.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs August 30th – November 3rd 2024.
Movies that inspired 2024’s Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights:
Pyper Braun as Alice jn ‘Imaginary.’ Photo Credit: Parrish Lewis.
Opening in theaters on March 8th, ‘Imaginary’ is the latest horror from the increasingly prolific –– and increasingly hit-or-miss Blumhouse team. Sadly, the story of a long-dormant childhood fear factor coming back to haunt a woman and her family is more firmly in the “miss” category.
While imaginary friends are clearly on filmmakers’ minds at the moment between this and John Krasinski’s upcoming, much more family-orientated ‘IF’, the new attempt at finding terror in the mundane-meets-the-metaphysical is more disappointing than most of Blumhouse’s recent efforts.
DeWanda Wise as Jessica in ‘Imaginary.’ Photo Credit: Parrish Lewis.
How much you appreciate ‘Imaginary’ might depend on your tolerance for seemingly endless passages of exposition delivered in the middle of scenes, effectively grinding the movie to a halt so someone can spout off about spirits and their filtering through different cultures.
It’s either that or some fairly rote frights blended awkwardly with mawkish bonding as a step-family learns to come together via the power of, er, a terrifying bear.
Script and Direction
(L to R) DeWanda Wise as Jessica and Director Jeff Wadlow on the set of ‘Imaginary.’ Photo Credit: Parrish Lewis.
The script for this new horror movie is unfortunately one of its weakest points. Cranked out by Greg Erb and Jason Oremland alongside the film’s director, Jeff Wadlow, it’s an uneasy mish-mash of predictable plot points and even less surprising jump scares.
And the tone is all over the place; while it can be a good thing to spend some time setting up your characters, ‘Imaginary’ doesn’t boast particularly original examples in the first place, its dynamic built on over-used fractiousness between the members of this blended family. There’s plenty of scope for terror in the idea of danger lurking from someone’s past and haunting their present, but the concepts here have been brought to screens several times before in more original and satisfying fashion.
Even worse, there are glaring signposts all over the place, from the main character’s job (a children’s book writer/illustrator obsessed with a spider character and terrorized by a giant arachnid in her nightmares) to scenes of a child psychologist interviewing our heroine’s younger step daughter, only for things to take a disturbing turn.
There are ways to combine obvious elements in a way that feels fresh (see, for example, the ‘Spider-Verse’ movies, which take the endlessly-exploited Spider-Man origin and find new things to say, layering on extra emotion and meaning), but ‘Imaginary’ is content to stay simmering at a lukewarm pace and level of thoughtfulness.
Wadlow, meanwhile does himself and his cast no favors on the directing front. This is largely blandly shot, and while he looks to get experimental in the final act, even that is embarrassingly amateurish, a sort of Tim Burton-lite funhouse that even by Blumhouse’s tightly budgeted standards looks cheap and humiliating. Sure, it’s meant to be grown from children’s imagination, but did it need to look so shockingly low rent? And the less said about the final forms of the creatures, the better.
Performances
(L to R) DeWanda Wise as Jessica and Pyper Braun as Alice in ‘Imaginary.’ Photo Credit: Parrish Lewis.
Playing our main protagonist, conflicted stepmother Jessica, DeWanda Wise struggles with breathing life into such a blandly predictable character. She’s got the past emotional baggage, the distant, ailing father (if you don’t guess why he’s in the condition he is from the moment you meet him, shame on you), and entirely uninspiring issues with her current family. Wise is watchable, but even she can’t save this role.
As her youngest step-kid Alice, Pyper Braun does a serviceable enough job, working best when she’s channeling ‘The Exorcist’ for a “conversation” with seemingly haunted bear Chauncey in front of Dr. Soto (Veronica Falcón). A bundle of her own neuroses, Alice is a perfectly fine foil for the main threat, but even she’s mostly called upon to be sweet, pouty or scared in entirely basic fashion.
The less said about her teen sister Taylor, played by Taegen Burns, the better. It’s no fault of Burns, who is burdened with a completely cliché rebellious type who boringly wants to spend time with the hunky teenage boy next door or shout at Jessica that she’s not her real mom and shouldn’t look to replace her in Alice’s affections. There is something interesting to be mined in the portrayal of a young woman forced to grow up quicker than expected and care for her sister, but ‘Imaginary’ does so in utterly facile fashion.
Everyone else in the film is either an exposition spout or so paper thin (Tom Payne’s Max, who a musician who leaves to go on tour so quickly he might as well not be in the movie) that they barely register.
And Chauncey, the totem for the title’s not-so-imaginary being? He won’t replace M3GAN in anyone’s list of great horror characters.
Final Thoughts
Pyper Braun as Alice in ‘Imaginary.’ Photo Credit: Parrish Lewis.
Unlikely to end up on anyone’s list of best horror movies (though at least it has the completely disposable, low-rent likes of ‘Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey’ to compare favorably against in the pantheon of scare bears), ‘Imaginary’ has a couple of decent moments, but neither is enough to rescue it from coming across as a bargain bin horror.
Wadlow has made better horror before ‘Cry Wolf; for one, and even ‘Truth or Dare’ but this represents him on autopilot. Thinking it’ll make for a solid night of terror at the movies? You’re imagining things.
‘Imaginary’ receives 5 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the Story of ‘Imaginary’?
When Jessica (DeWanda Wise) returns to her childhood home with her family, she finds her old teddy bear, Chauncey, and sees that her youngest stepdaughter Alice (Pyper Braun) has grown attached to it.
After Alice’s behavior becomes concerning, and the games that she and Chauncey play turn increasingly sinister, Jessica starts realizing that Chauncey is much more than the stuffed bear she believed him to be for all those years…
Who Else is in ‘Imaginary’?
Wise and Braun are joined in the movie by Tom Payne, Betty Buckley, Taegen Burns, Matthew Sato, Verónica Falcón and Dane DiLiegro (who voices Chauncey).
Pyper Braun as Alice jn ‘Imaginary.’ Photo Credit: Parrish Lewis.
Time to meet your new best friend in the latest thriller from Blumhouse Productions, ‘M3GAN.’ M3GAN, AKA Model 3 Generative Android is the perfect storm of an artificial intelligence program becoming self-aware, and taking her job entirely too seriously.
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The trailer already created a buzz on the internet ahead of the films release, prompting endless memes of M3GAN performing a series of (now signature) dance moves before switching to slasher mode. In fact, prior to the movie’s premiere, a team of M3GAN doll dancers could be spotted at various events and venues performing the signature number. The film opened on January 6, 2022 to $30.4 million domestically and has earn over $171.2 million worldwide as of today. The story comes from the minds of Aleka Cooper (‘Malignant‘) and James Wan (‘The Conjuring‘ franchise), and was directed by Gerard Johnstone (‘Housebound‘).
In the film, toy designer/robotist Gemma (Williams) was working on a child-sized android A.I. companion, which she named M3GAN (Model 3 Generative Android). When Gemma becomes the parental guardian of her niece Cady (McGraw), she uses the opportunity to put M3GAN to the test. All things were going well until M3GAN’s artificial intelligence programming began to take its tasks too seriously, going to the extreme to protect Cady by brutally taking down anyone who rebels against her.
The official synopsis for ‘M3GAN’ is:
“M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a lifelike doll that’s programmed to be a child’s best friend. When a brilliant roboticist gives her young niece an M3GAN prototype, it soon becomes violent and does anything to protect the girl.”
We will get to see M3GAN again! The PG-13 horror flick received positive reviews, warranting a 93% Fresh score on the Tomato-meter from critics and 78% from the audience. Thanks to its popularity, the sequel ‘M3GAN 2.0’ is now in the works at Universal, set for release on January 17, 2025. In an interview with Variety, producer Jason Blum admitted that they were already playing with the idea of a sequel before the first film was even released.
“After I saw the first movie, we had a good sense that a sequel might really work. So, we broke our cardinal rule and we started t walking about a sequel before the movie was released. I felt so bullish that we started entertaining a sequel earlier than we usually do.”
Set to return to the follow-up film are stars Allison Williams and Violet McGraw to reprise their roles as Gemma and Cady. Screenwriter Aleka Cooper will also return. No word yet on whether Gerard Johnstone will return to direct or if Blumhouse is eyeing a new director. Plots are under wraps for now.
Where Can I Watch ‘M3GAN’ and The Unrated Version?
The movie is still playing in select theaters. The film premiered on January 6, 2023, and has a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes.
Can’t get enough of the evil AI android going on a killing spree? You’re in luck. There’s also an unrated version with never-before-seen footage available exclusively on Peacock as of February 24th. The theatrical version is available on Peacock as well.
Watch the official trailer for ‘M3GAN’ below:
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When Will It Be Available To Stream Online?
You can currently purchase a digital copy of ‘M3GAN’ from Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play, or iTunes. Additionally, you can rent a digital copy of the movie (with a 48-hour watch window) on Amazon or iTunes.
Other Movies That’ll Make You Question Your Smart Device
‘M3GAN’ delivers on suspense and comedy for its PG-13 rating, and it is certainly on its way of becoming a cult hit. But the premise of an A.I. gone awry or a doll coming to life isn’t the first of its kind. Here are a few movies that’ll make you question the smart devices or child-sized dolls in your home.
‘M3GAN’ was released in theaters on January 6th, 2022 from Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, and Atomic Monster. Directed by Gerard Johnstone, and written by Akela Cooper, based on a story by James Wan, the film stars Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Lori Dungey, Amie Donald, and Jenna Davis as the voice of M3GAN.
Watch Moviefone’s interviews with the cast and crew of ‘M3GAN’ below:
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.
Convinced that doll you gave your daughter or niece for Christmas is watching you?
Then you’ll relate to Allison Williams’ plight in ‘M3GAN,’ the latest horror offering from fear factory Blumhouse Productions, screenwriter Akela Cooper (‘Malignant’) and horror auteur James Wan (here co-writing and producing). Williams plays Gemma, an ambitious but OCD toymaker/roboticist who creates the film’s titular treat, the ultimate interactive doll, and then introduces her to her niece Cady (played by ‘The Haunting of Hill House’s Violet McGraw). Gemma assumes custody of Cady after her parents are killed in a car accident. Unfortunately, she’s much more interested in finishing her latest invention than being a parent.
M3GAN (played by Amie Donald and voiced by Jenna Davis) sits firmly at the bottom of the uncanny valley, with shiny silicone skin and just-shy-of-human voice and mannerisms. But director Gerard Johnstone and the wizards at Weta FX are smart enough not to make her too creepy at first glance, lest audiences wonder why any grown-up would leave their child alone with the android plaything.
The shivers begin in earnest when M3GAN starts taking her job as Cady’s guardian a little too seriously – and moves from making sure her charge brushes her teeth to murdering anyone who threatens her. Gemma’s then forced to decide between helping her hot-tempered boss (Ronny Chieng) launch a ten-thousand-dollar retail version of M3GAN and finally deciding to face her responsibility as caregiver.
While ‘M3GAN’ takes some admirable jabs at parents who too often rely on technology to babysit their kids, its principal strength is its campy black comedy. As ‘Chucky’ fans well know, it’s hard not to laugh at the sight of a four-foot doll slaughtering people; and Johnstone pushes his modest budget and PG-13 rating about as far as they can go. Like Chucky, M3GAN knows the value of a well-timed zinger, and her dance moves made for some much-shared memes months before the film’s release. ‘M3GAN’ also pulls a page from Sam Raimi’s scare-humor playbook in its editing, with several quick-cut mini montages amping up the absurdity of the film’s violence.
Unfortunately, there’s only so much an over-the-top horror movie can do when it’s PG-13. Which means our enjoyment of M3GAN’s kills is frequently curtailed by shots that cut away from the payoff gore. As proven by classics like ‘Re-Animator’ and ‘Return of the Living Dead,’ when it comes to splatter comedy more is most definitely more. The film also plays it too safe in its storytelling. Innocent lives are spared, as all of M3GAN’s victims are portrayed as bad people who had it coming.
If there’s an upside to this tidiness, ‘M3GAN’ could prove to be a gateway drug for budding young fright fans who might otherwise be prevented from witnessing on-screen mayhem. (The screening I attended had far more tweens in its audience than most horror movies.) Thankfully, ‘M3GAN’ is clearly made by people who know and love the genre, and it wears its influences on its sleeve. In its tale of a woman who creates – and ultimately rejects – a female without the aid of a partner, it functions as a twenty-first century take on Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein.’
It also offers nods at plenty of other sci-fi fables, from long-forgotten TV sitcoms like ‘My Living Doll’ and ‘Small Wonder’ to cinematic masterpieces like ‘Robocop’ and ‘A.I.’ It’s the sci-fi equivalent of such fantasy-fueled killer doll films as ‘Child’s Play’ and ‘Annabelle’ (also produced by Wan), but unafraid to play with its genre’s big ideas.
The cast is more than up to what’s asked of them. Williams (who shined in Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’) gives an earnest performance as a woman more at home with machines than humanity. In that, she’s well-partnered with McGraw, who convinces as a trauma survivor in need of tenderness. (The always amusing Chieng is a fitting foil, taking his douche-bro persona – on full display in ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ – to hilarious extremes.)
But while many of last year’s most acclaimed fright flicks – including ‘Barbarian,’ ‘Smile,’ and ‘Pearl’ – exploited their characters’ trauma to the point of exhaustion, ‘M3GAN’ gives audiences an opportunity to have fun with the genre again, while them that laughter and terror are close cousins.
Just make sure the inevitable sequel is R-rated, Blumhouse, and we’ll forgive the gore deficit.
Opening in theaters on January 6th is the new sci-fi horror film ‘M3GAN,’ which was produced by Jason Blum and James Wan, based on a story by Wan, and directed by Gerard Johnstone (‘Housebound’).
The movie stars Allison Williams (‘Get Out’) as Gemma, a brilliant roboticist at a toy company who uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a lifelike doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally.
After the unexpected death of her sister, Gemma gains custody of her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw) and enlists the help of the M3GAN prototype. However, her decision has horrific consequences when the doll becomes self-aware and overprotective of Cady, leading her to kill everyone!
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with Allison Williams to talk about her work on ‘M3GAN,’ her first reaction to the screenplay, her character’s parental situation, the challenges of acting opposite M3GAN, and working with director Gerard Johnstone.
Allison Williams stars in Blumhouse Productions’ ‘M3GAN.’
You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Williams, director Gerard Johnstone, and producers Jason Blum and James Wan.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and did the scares in the film read on the page?
Allison Williams: I read it really quickly and in one sitting. I found it just impossible to put down. I probably was sweating by the end, just wondering like, “Oh God, what’s going to happen? How are they all going to get out of the situation? Who’s going to come out of the situation alive?”
So, it definitely had that momentum to it, and I didn’t want to put it down. I found it just super compelling. I mean, Akela (Cooper) writes a good screenplay, so it was a good experience to sit down and read it, for sure.
MF: Your character suddenly becomes the guardian of her niece after her parent’s death. Can you talk about how that changes Gemma’s life?
AW: She has total myopia. All she cares about is what she does for a living. She’s super passionate about it. She’s really brilliant. She’s really good at it. I have a ton of friends like this, she’s the kind of person who If you say, “Do you want a family?” She’s kind of like, “Yeah, maybe later, but probably not. We’ll see how life goes, but I’m kind of loving being focused on work right now.” Then boom, she’s an instant parent.
I think that is just something she never saw coming in a million years. She probably promised her sister and then didn’t really remember, and now suddenly, here she is, with this little girl who went from having a very full life with two parents, to just living with her aunt in a less than ideal situation. So, it’s possible to imagine why Gemma thought, “Oh, I have just the thing to help me with this quagmire.” Enter M3GAN.
MF: As an actress, can you talk about the challenges of working opposite M3GAN?
AW: Without sort of ruining the magic of how M3GAN came to be, I’ve had many experiences that helped, and kind of added together, prepared me for the experience of working with her.
On ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events,’ the Netflix show, I worked often with kids who either were or weren’t there, but there was a piece of tape on the camera. So, I had that experience. I’ve done work with puppets before and stuff like that, so I think that helped prepare me for what was happening.
MF: Finally, can you talk about how Gerard Johnstone was able to help direct you in your scenes with M3GAN?
AW: Gerard has the most specific tone, and it is very easy to read these things on the page and be like, “I’m not totally sure how this is going to translate to film.” But he just always saw and understood how that was supposed to look.
For example, the dance, it reads one way on the page and you’re like, “Ooh, that’s probably spooky and eerie.” But it’s entirely another thing to see it in that hallway, the way it was choreographed, the way it was filmed. It just works perfectly in this way that only he can conceptualize.
Universal talked a big game at its CinemaCon presentation on Wednesday afternoon – and specifically about big numbers in terms of releases.
The studio has more than 20 movies scheduled for release this year (yes, even more than production powerhouse Disney), and was ready to sell that idea to the assembled theater owners in the audience.
Pairing on-stage filmmaking talent with workers from the boots-on-the-ground cinema world, Universal kicked things off with Jordan Peele’s anticipated next horror, ‘Nope’.
Taking part in a Q&A with Anthony Fykes, co-owner of Next Act Cinema, the first-Black owned cinema in the Baltimore area, Peele outlined his movie-making policy. “I’m always attracted by my favorite movie I haven’t seen before,” said Peele. “My plan is to bring these new ideas and nightmares to the big screen.”
And about his latest? “This is definitely a ride. I like titles that are into how the audience is feeling and reflect on what they are thinking and feeling in the theater,” Peele told the crowd. “I’m going to personally thrive on the amount of times that we hear ‘Nope’ in the theater.”
Peele did ask that the audience not give away anything about the new teaser (which won’t be shown to regular audiences for a few weeks) but so far the story appears to involve workers at a ranch that caters to Hollywood productions being bothered by threats from the sky. Peele revealed that he’d been using new IMAX techniques to bring to the screen shots that no one has seen before.
Somewhere, you can just hear James Cameron muttering, “challenge: accepted!”
‘Nope’ is scheduled to land in theaters on July 2nd.
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Next up was Jamie Lee Curtis, there to promote ‘Halloween Ends’, and from the sounds of her comments, it’s also the big finale for her performance as victim-turned-badass Laurie Strode.
Yet before all of that, Curtis displayed her trademark sense of humor. “Two people got up?! Okay, whatever, it’s only been 44 f*****g years. I’m fine. I’m secure. Its’ fine. It’s really nice to be here again,” she announced upon arriving on stage (to a huge cheer and warm reaction from the audience).
Curtis went on to describe ‘Halloween Ends’, once again directed by David Gordon Green– as “Laurie Strode’s last stand.” The movie stars Curtis and Andi Matichak as Laurie’s granddaughter, Alysson, with the two working to stop stalking killer Michael Myers for good. It’ll wrap up the trilogy kicked off by Green in 2018’s ‘Halloween’ and continued via last year’s ‘Halloween Kills’.
Curtis visibly welled up as she confessed that, “It’s been the ride of my life to portray Laurie Strode,” adding that she knows now why horror movies matter: “Horror lets us confront what we can’t control.”
‘Halloween Ends’ stalks into theaters on October 14th, just in time for… well, you know the holiday it’s named for.
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The horror vibes continued with techno terror ‘M3GAN,’ which like, the recent ‘Halloween’ movies is a Blumhouse production.
Produced by James Wan and directed by ‘Housebound’s Gerard Johnstone, it stars Allison Williams as Gemma, a brilliant roboticist working at a toy company who creates a lifelike doll. When she gains custody of her orphaned niece, she uses the prototype of the doll with unimaginable consequences.
Williams was on stage to introduce the footage – which, somewhat predictably shows the doll reacting badly when someone in the family starts tries to shut it down when it begins behaving oddly – and admitted that despite starring in the likes of this and ‘Get Out’, “I’m genuinely too scared to watch 99 percent of the films in the genre.”
‘M3GAN’ will find its way into theaters on January 13th next year.
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Baltasar Kormakur’s latest, ‘Beast’, stars Idris Elba, and while it had a more muted presentation – really just a trailer – the footage showed Elba’s Dr. Nate Samuels on an African adventure with his wife and daughters when the situation turns desperate, and they are hunted by a lion. Samuels will have to survive and fight back to save his family.
The movie stars David Dastmalchian, Aisling Franciosi, Liam Cunningham, Corey Hawkins, Javier Botet, Jon Briones and more in the story which follows the merchant ship Demeter on a voyage from Carpathia to London. Strange events befall the doomed crew as they attempt to survive the ocean voyage. Probably because a certain vampire is aboard, and takes a liking to some of his fellow passengers…
‘Last Voyage of the Demeter’ sails in on January 27th next year.
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The terror levels decreased significantly (well, depending on how you view stressful family gatherings) thanks to star and executive producer Jo Koy introducing ‘Easter Sunday’.
Bringing the laughs (and making references to Jamie Lee Curtis’ sweary schtick), Koy explained how he planned his outfit – he was clad in his 18-year-old son’s pants to be fashion forward. “But I don’t have my son’s balls. I have 50-year-old balls.”
He continues by saying that Steven Spielberg first caught his stand-up act, and invited the comedian in to pitch his story, a universal one (he’s at the right studio, then). “We all laugh at the same shit,” Koy explained.
After Koy threw sweatshirts out to the crowd, he cued the trailer, which draws from his own life experiences and shows his chaotic Filipino family around the dinner table. The movie, despite its seemingly seasonal title, will be out on August 5, directed by Jay Chandrasekhar.
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Koy was followed by ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ voice star Steve Carell, there to promote the latest chapter of the ever-expanding ‘Despicable Me’ franchise. He joked around with a cinema owner, who he challenged to mimic Gru and then introduced a clip from the movie, which arrives on July 1st after being pushed back more than once by pandemic concerns.
Animation was also represented by ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’. Introduced by one of the movie’s voice stars, Harvey Guillen (he’s Perro, a new character, who happens to be a chatty chihuahua), the story follows Puss’ (Antonio Banderas) attempts to secure more lives for himself after all his various scrapes. A new trailer was shown for the ‘toon, which debuts on December 21st.
Billy Eichner was on predictably comic form, arriving at CinemaCon for ‘Bros’, the rom com he wrote and stars in alongside Luke Macfarlane.
As is usual for the event, Eichner brought a clip from the movie, which showed Eichner as a podcast host who gets hired by a movie studio to write a gay romantic comedy in a very meta idea. Eichner’s character lays out his mission statement: “I don’t want any Hollywood bullshit, no scenes where two gay guys are about to hook up and all of a sudden the camera conveniently pulls away.”
‘Bros’ breaks new ground by featuring an all-LGBTQ+ cast, which Eichner talked about on stage. “You don’t believe a gay man can play straight but you suspend disbelief for Chewbacca,” he quipped, touting ‘Bros’ as the first gay rom-com ever to come from a major studio, adding he’s “not talking about the new Buzz Lightyear movie.”
Directed by Nicholas Stoller, ‘Bros’ will be out in theaters on September 30.
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Despite a comparative lack of star power on stage, ‘Ticket to Paradise’ boasts plenty of it on screen, with George Clooney and Julia Roberts as a divorced couple that reunites and travels to Bali to stop their daughter (Kaitlyn Dever), from making the same mistake they think they made 25 years ago by marrying someone she just met. Billie Lourd, Lucas Bravo, Amanda O’Dempsey, Rowan Chapman, Murran Kain and Vanessa Everett round out the cast for that one, which travels to theaters on October 21st.
On a more serious note, that was followed by the first look at ‘She Said’, the drama about the investigative reporters at the New York Times who helped to break the Harvey Weinstein story that kicked off the #MeToo movement.
Stars Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, who play reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor respectively, were on hand to introduce the film’s trailer, and they talked up the importance of the behind-the-scenes story and Kantor and Twohey’s book on which the film is based.
The trailer showed Twohey and Kantor starting small in trying to peel back the layers on harassment, only to go deeper down the rabbit hole and finding people unwilling to say anything on the record as it turned to accusations about Weinstein.
“The only way these women are going to go on the record,” Kantor says in the trailer, “Is if they all jump together,” Twohey responds.
Maria Schrader directs, with the screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz. The film opens in theaters from Universal on November 18th.
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Universal’s Focus Features had its own section, to debut looks at several of its movies. They included ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’, due on May 20th, heartwarming comedy ‘Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris’ (July 15th), and ‘Little Children’ director Todd Field’s first film in 15 years, ‘Tár’, set in the world of classical music, starring Cate Blanchett as a conductor. ‘Tár’ will be in theaters on October 15th.
James Gray’s ‘Armageddon Time’ also received a first look of its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. The coming-of-age story about the strength of family and the generational pursuit of the American Dream showcases a cast led by Anthony Hopkins, Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway. It has yet to score a general release date.
Following the relatively low-key, prestige Focus offerings, it was back to action chaos for ‘Violent Night’, introduced by star (and ‘Stranger Things’ regular) David Harbour.
Harbour raved about the experience of playing a hammer-swinging Santa who swears up a storm. The tone appeared to be a blend of ‘Die Hard’ and ‘John Wick’ and the movie arrives down theater chimneys on December 2nd.
“We are genuinely very enthused, we are crazed about this movie,” Goldblum told the crowd, revealing that this will be the first movie his kids see in theaters.
And of course, there was room for a little banter after Goldblum mentioned his character Ian Malcolm’s warnings about messing with nature in the original ‘Jurassic Park’. “That wisdom was ignored through subsequent movies,” he pointed out. Said Howard, “What would these moves be if people made the right choices?”
Retorted Goldblum, “You may be on to something. Maybe that’s been the message all this time, that dinosaurs are clever and homo sapiens are ignoramuses, or is it ignorami?”
‘Jurassic World Dominion’ roars into theaters on June 10th.
