M3GAN (film series)

M3GAN
Official film series logo
Based on	M3GAN by Akela Cooper & James Wan
Production companies	Blumhouse Productions Atomic Monster Divide/Conquer (1-2)
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release dates	January 6, 2023 (2023-01-06) (M3GAN) June 27, 2025 (2025-06-27) (M3GAN 2.0) January 9, 2026 (2026-01-09) (SOULM8TE)
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$37 million (2 films)
Box office	$220.9 million (2 films)

M3GAN is an American science fiction horror franchise^{[1] [2][3]} created by Akela Cooper and James Wan that has been produced by Blumhouse Productions and Atomic Monster since 2022. The series includes theatrical movies, with a plot that follows a toy company named Funki's development of lifelike companions through robotic androids, and the perilous discovery that the use of artificial intelligence functionality results in unpredictable malevolent results. The films have grossed over $220 million worldwide on a combined budget of $37 million.

Starring Amie Donald as physical performance and Jenna Davis as the vocal performance for the lead titular villain, and co-starring Allison Williams and Violet McGraw as the protagonists, the success of the first installment was met with critical acclaim.^[4][5][6][7] The movie was additionally deemed a hit at the box office, with additional positive reception from its audience.^[8][9] Its successes resulted in the associated studios fast-tracking the development of both a sequel and a spin-off in post-production and principal photography development stages, respectively.^[10][11]

Gemma, a robotics engineer with a promising career has her life turned upside down when she becomes the legal guardian of her newly-orphaned niece named Cady. Unsure of her own parenting abilities and seeking for a companion for Cady, Gemma pairs her niece with a prototype robotic doll enhanced with newly developed lifelike AI technology called M3GAN. As a profound bond between the doll and her niece develops, Gemma presents the observed advances in the project during a presentation at work. Determined to redefine what it means to be a family, Gemma and Cady both begin to discover that the doll's programming is more advanced than expected. M3GAN starts to behave in shockingly unexpected ways, which causes Gemma to question their safety and what its artificial intelligence is capable of.^[12][13][14]

In January 2023, Gerard Johnstone confirmed discussions with the associated studios for a sequel movie, while James Wan explained that he has an "idea of where sequels would go".^[15] A few weeks later, Universal confirmed a release date and announced the official title as M3GAN 2.0. Akela Cooper returned to write the script and Johnstone also returned to direct.^[10] In October 2024 at New York Comic Con, the primary cast (including Allison Williams and Violet McGraw) was confirmed to reprise their respective roles; while primary photography was announced as being completed.^[16] Marketing for the movie began in April 2025 at CinemaCon; while its first official trailer was released online by the studio.^[17]

M3GAN 2.0 was released theatrically on June 27, 2025.^[18]

In June 2024, a spin-off movie titled Soulm8te was announced as being in development; which will be directed by Kate Dolan, from a script she wrote based on an earlier draft written by Rafael Jordan, from an original story co-authored by James Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Jordan. The plot will center around a man who acquires the life-like android doll, as a coping strategy means of overcoming the death of his beloved wife. While attempting to enhance the model with true sentience however, he unintentionally turns the love-machine into a rampaging deadly killer. The movie is described as a technological twist on the erotic thrillers of the 1990s.^[11] In August 2024, Lily Sullivan was cast in the lead role as the artificially intelligent android.^[19] The project will be a joint-venture production between Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, and Atomic Monster Productions.^[11] Later that month, David Rysdahl and Claudia Doumit joined the cast.^[20][21] Principal photography had been completed by November 2024.^[22] Marketing for the movie commenced in April 2025 at CinemaCon, where the first official teaser trailer debuted for those in attendance.^[23][24]

SOULM8TE scheduled to release theatrically on January 2, 2026.^[11]

In December 2024, Johnstone stated that there are ongoing discussions with all creatives involved to continue expanding the franchise with additional installments. The director stated he would like to see a future M3GAN sequel, with the android character among a dystopian future in the style of the Mad Max franchise, acknowledging that one day the concept may be explored in a future story. Allison Williams expressed interest in developing additional spin-offs following the release of Soulm8te, while stating she would like to see each of the installments culminate in a crossover movie. Comparing the idea to a Marvel Cinematic Universe-style movie, the actress asked what the primary antagonist of such a project would be; saying: "What is the Thanos equivalent?”^[2]