M3GAN 2.0 may have only just arrived in theaters, but producer James Wan has revealed how the new SOULM8TE spinoff movie will fit within the burgeoning franchise. First announced in January 2024, the upcoming spinoff has been touted as a more mature take on the AI world first established in 2022’s original M3GAN.
Written and directed by Kate Dolan, SOULM8TE’s plot will follow a grieving husband who attempts to cope with the death of his wife by purchasing an AI companion. Featuring a cast that includes Claudia Doumit (The Boys), David Rysdahl (Oppenheimer), Lily Sullivan (Evil ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Rise), and Oliver Cooper (Californication), the spinoff is set to arrive in theaters on January 9, 2026.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Wan confirmed that while SOULM8TE is set in the same world, it follows a more adult story separate from the PG-13 constraints of the M3GAN films. Comparing it to the erotic thrillers of the 1990s, the producer even went so far as to describe the film as “Fatal Attraction but with robots.” Check out his comments below:
M3GAN, obviously, dabbles in the PG-13 world, the younger demographic. We always felt like there might be a more adult story to tell, and that’s really what SOULM8TE is. SOULM8TE is basically set in the same AI world but seen through a more grown-up perspective, one that embraces all the great erotic thrillers from the ’90s. It’s like Fatal Attraction but with robots.
Wan also went on to explain that while SOULM8TE will still contain humor in line with the M3GAN movies that spawned it, it will possess the darkest sense of humor of all three films in the franchise. He also suggested that they did not want to directly replicate M3GAN’s trademark sᴀss. Check out his final comments below:
It’s really more grown-up. It is hard to replicate that sᴀssiness that M3GAN has, and we don’t really want to do the same thing that we’ve done because M3GAN has fully staked a claim to that style of humor, if you will.
What SOULM8TE’s Adult Themes Mean For The M3GAN Franchise
The Franchise Is Already A Mashup Of Distinct Genres
Given the overwhelming popularity of the first M3GAN movie and the cult-like appeal of its тιтular robot, it is probably not surprising that producers would look to rapidly expand the property. Yet, while the threat of AI remains constant across all three movies, the patchwork approach to the franchise’s selection of genres is decidedly unusual.
While the original movie was essentially an updated take on the well-known killer doll trope, the franchise has already taken a surprising turn by crafting M3GAN 2.0 into an action film that transforms its тιтular robot into a reformed hero. Now SOULM8TE appears poised to deliver yet another entirely different set of well-known tropes and film conventions.
The viability of other potential spinoffs and sequels will likely hinge on how well SOULM8TE is received.
Whether this latest shift into ‘90s style erotic thrillers will succeed, especially in the wake of M3GAN 2.0’s own notable change in genre, remains to be seen. However, the viability of other potential spinoffs and sequels will likely hinge on how well SOULM8TE is received.
Our Take On SOULM8TE’s Use Of ’90s Thriller Tropes
An R-Rated Approach Will Cut Out A Lot Of The Franchise Fanbase
While the franchise is intent on embracing a wide range of film traditions, the decision to lean into classic thrillers like Fatal Attraction bodes well for a more mature take on the world of M3GAN. Moreover, the franchise’s foray into more adult-oriented fare may also appeal to audiences of the first movie who preferred M3GAN’s unrated cut.
However, the question is whether Dolan’s ’90s-inspired thriller will be able to appeal to a large enough audience base to justify other adult-themed M3GAN spinoffs. Not only will SOULM8TE mark another distinct change in genre, but by embracing an R-rated story, the new movie will need to contend with a much smaller subset of the franchise’s existing fanbase.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
