Summary
- Child star Violet McGraw is confirmed to reprise her role as Cady in the horror sequel M3GAN 2.0, joining other returning cast members.
- M3GAN was a box office success, grossing $30.4 million in its opening weekend and earning $181 million overall against a $12 million budget.
- M3GAN 2.0 is currently in the early stages of production, aiming for a January 2025 release, and will continue to explore the topic of artificial intelligence.
Child star Violet McGraw has confirmed that she will return to reprise her role of Cady in the upcoming horror sequel, M3GAN 2.0. Released in 2022, M3GAN saw McGraw star as a young girl who is gifted a doll by her aunt after her parents’ tragic death. Dubbed ‘M3GAN’ for Model 3 Generative Android, the AI-powered doll soon becomes self-aware, leading to disastrous results. Speaking to DiscussingFilm on Saturday, January 6, 2024, 12-year-old McGraw revealed to the outlet that she will be returning for M3GAN 2.0, which is slated for release in January 2025.
She will join Allison Williams (Gemma), Amie Donald (M3GAN), and Jenna Davis (the voice of M3GAN), who have all been confirmed to be returning for the sequel. Speaking on her return as Cady, McGraw said that she is “dying” to find out what will happen in the new film:
“Yes I am returning. I’m very excited to film that [M3GAN 2.0]. I am literally dying to know what happens. I’m just looking forward to reuniting with all of the cast and crew.”
Check out the full clip with Violet McGraw from DiscussingFilm on X below:
M3GAN grossed $30.4 million dollars during its opening weekend in 2022, finishing second behind Avatar: The Way of Water. It went on to earn a staggering $181 million against a budget of just $12 million, making it a huge hit for Universal Pictures. A sequel was confirmed in January 2023 by director Gerald Johnstone, who admitted to feeling the pressure after the success of the first film. It hasn’t officially been announced that he will return to direct M3GAN 2.0.
Related: The Writer Behind M3GAN Is Making a New Horror Movie, But What Is It?
M3GAN 2.0 Has Already Begun Production
A robotics engineer at a toy company builds a life-like doll that begins to take on a life of its own.
Release Date January 6, 2023
Director Gerard Johnstone
Rating PG-13
Produced by both Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, the two companies have since merged into one entity, Jason Blum and James Wan will once again join forces to produce a slew of new horror films, including the anticipated sequel to M3GAN. According to Blumhouse producer, Ryan Turek, M3GAN 2.0 is now in the early stages of production. Speaking with Collider just a couple of days into 2024, Turek said they are still aiming for the 2025 release date that has been set:
“M3GAN 2.0 is underway. We haven’t started shooting or anything like that. We’re aiming towards that January release date that was set.”
While major plot details for M3GAN 2.0 remain under wraps for now, the first film hit a nerve with audiences, as the subject of artificial intelligence was a hotly contested topic at the time of its release. M3GAN currently holds a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes, earning high praise from industry critics. In an interview with Empire Magazine, producer James Wan did reveal that the sequel will lean into the concerns over AI even further:
“It’s early yet, but M3GAN is coming back in a big way. The first film came just at the right time [when concerns about AI were mounting], and we’re definitely leaning into that on the next one. We’re exploring the AI universe even further.”
Though the release of M3GAN 2.0 is still a year away, fans are already buzzing over the potential of a crossover with another famed doll: Chucky from the Child’s Play franchise. Chucky creator Don Mancini told people to “stay tuned” in a recent interview with Variety in regard to a potential crossover between the two horror icons. As to what that means for the future of both franchises, fans of both M3GAN and Chucky will have to wait a little while longer to find out, as nothing has been confirmed just yet.
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