M3GAN sequel discussions are already underway at Universal

Universal won’t be giving the sci-fi thriller M3GAN a theatrical release until January 6th, but The New York Times reports that the studio is so happy with how the film has turned out – and so pleased that the trailer went viral – that sequel discussions are already underway. The New York Times notes that TikTok posts tagged #M3GAN have been viewed 300 million times since the trailer was released last month.

Based on a story crafted by producer James Wan, M3GAN was directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound) 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.

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.

As announced yesterday, Blum and Wan are now in advanced talks to merge their companies Blumhouse and Atomic Monster. Wan had originally pitched M3GAN to Warner Bros., but the studio turned it down because they felt it was too similar to the Wan-produced Annabelle franchise. That’s how it ended up with Universal and Blumhouse, paving the way for a lot more Blum/Wan collaborations.

Are you looking forward to M3GAN? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.