Universal Pulls ‘M3GAN’ Spinoff From Release Schedule – Here’s Why

Universal Pictures has decided to remove the sci-fi thriller Soulm8te from its January 9 release date, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The film, directed by Kate Dolan, was originally intended to be part of the M3GAN universe, but the studio is now reportedly shopping it to find a new release plan.

While the original M3GAN movie in 2022 was a hit, grossing $180 million worldwide and earning nearly $80 million in profit, its sequel, M3GAN 2.0, did not perform as well. Despite a higher budget than the first film, the follow-up brought in just $39 million globally, which may have influenced Universal’s decision to reconsider Soulm8te’s release, according to Deadline.

A scheduling conflict also played a role. Paramount moved its horror title Primate onto the same weekend, making it impractical for two major studios to release horror films against each other.

Soulm8te tells the story of a man who acquires an artificially intelligent android to cope with the death of his wife. In his attempt to create a sentient partner, the harmless lovebot turns deadly. The film stars Claudia Doumit, Lily Sullivan, Isabelle Bonfrer, Emma Ramos, and Sydney Blackburn. It is inspired by classic 1990s erotic thrillers, according to the filmmakers.

Kate Dolan, who directed the indie horror film You Are Not My Mother in 2021, co-wrote the screenplay with Rafael Jordan. The story was created by James Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Rafael Jordan. Soulm8te is produced by Atomic Monster’s James Wan and Blumhouse’s Jason Blum, with executive producers Michael Clear, Judson Scott, and Ingrid Bisu.

This move shows that Universal is being cautious with the release, especially after the mixed performance of M3GAN 2.0. In my opinion, the decision makes sense from a business perspective, but fans of the M3GAN universe will likely be disappointed. Where do you think Soulm8te should land its release? Share your thoughts in the comments.