M3GAN 2.0: Director Gerard Johnstone is excited to try to duplicate first film’s success

About two months ago, and only twelve days after the sci-fi thriller M3GAN (read our review HERE) reached theatres, it was announced that the sequel M3GAN 2.0 will be getting a January 17, 2025 theatrical release. Now ComicBook.com has caught up with director Gerard Johnstone to get a status update on the sequel – and during their talk, Johnstone said he’s excited to try to replicate the success of the first film.

Johnstone told ComicBook.com, “All I can say is that I’m here in L.A. and been thinking about it, working on it, and I’m just catching up with them this week to talk about it and do a debrief. It’s really important to do a debrief on the first movie, like a post-game analysis, and look at what worked and how we can do it again. I mean, Jesus Christ, it’s difficult to replicate the success. No one was expecting that, so it’s daunting, but exciting at the same time.“

Based on a story crafted by producer James Wan, M3GAN was directed by Johnstone from a screenplay by Akela Cooper (Malignant). The film has the following synopsis:

She’s more than just a toy. She’s part of the family.

From the most prolific minds in horror — James Wan, the filmmaker behind the Saw, Insidious and The Conjuring franchises, and Blumhouse, the producer of the Halloween films, The Black Phone and The Invisible Man — comes a fresh new face in terror.

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma, M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to. When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady, Gemma’s unsure and unprepared to be a parent. Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems — a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.

Allison Williams (Get Out), Violet McGraw (The Haunting of Hill House), Ronny Chieng (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Brian Jordan Alvarez (Will & Grace), Jen Van Epps (Cowboy Bebop), Lori Dungey (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring), and Stephane Garneau-Monten (Straight Forward) star.

Williams and McGraw are confirmed to be returning for M3GAN 2.0.

A collaboration between Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, and Atomic Monster, in association with Divide/Conquer, M3GAN was produced by James Wan and Jason Blum. Williams serves as executive producer alongside Mark Katchur, Ryan Turek, Michael Clear, Judson Scott, Adam Hendricks, and Greg Gilreath.

I enjoyed M3GAN, so I’m looking forward to seeing how M3GAN 2.0 is going to turn out. Have you seen M3GAN, and if so, are you interested in seeing a sequel? Let us know by leaving a comment below.