A sequel to the recent horror movie hit, M3GAN, is reportedly already in the works, with the killer doll now on track to become the next slasher icon. As per a report by Deadline, M3GAN 2 is now in development, though at this time it is unknown whether director Gerard Johnstone or screenwriter Akela Cooper will return for more. Considering the monumental success of the first outing, the studio will no doubt be clamoring to get the same creative team together again for the M3GAN sequel.
M3GAN begins when Gemma, a brilliant roboticist at a toy company, uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN (short for Model 3 Generative Android), a lifelike doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. After unexpectedly gaining custody of her recently orphaned niece, Cady, when the child’s parents die in a car accident, Gemma enlists the help of the M3GAN prototype, a decision that has horrific consequences when the doll becomes self-aware and overprotective of Cady, leading her to kill and harm anyone that gets in her way.
Directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound, The New Legends of Monkey) from a screenplay by Akela Cooper and a story by Cooper and James Wan, M3GAN stars Allison Williams as Gemma, a roboticist and the inventor of M3GAN; Violet McGraw as Cady, Gemma’s orphaned niece and soon-to-be M3GAN’s best friend; and Amie Donald as the titular M3GAN. The rest of the cast includes Ronny Chieng, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps, Stephane Garneau-Monten, Arlo Green, Lori Dungey, and Jenna Davis as the voice of M3GAN.
Producer James Wan, who is of course no stranger to spawning horror franchises, recently revealed that he has plans for M3GAN 2. “What I will say to that is, in any of my movies, whether it’s The Conjuring Universe, or Saw, or Malignant, or M3GAN here, we like to think of a bigger world," the filmmaker behind the likes of Saw and The Conjuring explained. “For me, it’s about creating the world, and knowing who the characters are, where the story could potentially go, and then building this bigger world, and then going into that and going, “Okay, I’m telling this particular story, but I know other stuff that’s going on.” So if we’re fortunate enough to have sequels, then we have an idea of where we want to go.”
RELATED: M3GAN Success Fuels Best Killer Doll Debate with Chucky Fans
M3GAN Has Made it Big at the Box Office
Universal Pictures
News of a sequel so soon after the release of the first outing should come as little surprise to those have been following the box office takings. M3GAN has so far grossed over $45 million worldwide against a budget of $12 million, and has been met with positive reviews from critics for its campy thrills and surprisingly vicious chills.
M3GAN now sits at a hugely impressive 94% on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with MovieWeb’s own Will Sayre praising the combination of laughs and terror saying, “In the moments of violence, the film’s accompanying soundtrack will make you laugh out loud as M3GAN struts her stuff and takes out anyone in her way. It’s certainly worth it to see a film like this in theaters. The audience reactions will surely be sheer entertainment alone.”
M3GAN is out in theaters now, courtesy of Universal Pictures.
