Jonathan Shelby
Amelia ominously lurks behind an open door. The actors from "M3GAN" will return for "M3GAN 2.0" releasing June 27. (Universal Pictures under Fair Use)
One of the breakout movies from 2023 was “M3GAN,” which featured a robotic doll named M3GAN, short for Model 3 Generative Android, whose purpose is to protect her owner, Cady, from harm.
The killer android made $95 million domestically on a budget of $12 million and was a hit on TikTok as videos of her dance went viral. After that tremendous success in the box office, Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions and Atomic Monster have collaborated for another outing for the machine in “M3GAN 2.0,” releasing in theaters June 27.
The last time moviegoers saw M3GAN was when Cady lodged a screwdriver into the android’s brain, but that didn’t put her down for good. The trailer shows the audience that she’s been reprogrammed with her murderous tendencies removed and in a less threatening body, so she can be trusted again.
It has been years since the last film took place, as Cady, played by returning actress Violet McGraw, has gotten older. She’s a teenager, complete with the challenge of finding a sense of individuality and anxiety. Being a teenager is the least of her and her guardian Gemma’s concerns as a new android is online.
That android is Amelia, a robot designed by Gemma, who was built on M3GAN’s designs and is played by Ivana Sakhno. Amelia was supposed to be deleted, but she’s set on destroying anyone who was responsible for her creation, including Gemma and Cady.
Their only hope is to transfer M3GAN into another body to take down Amelia. Gemma, reprised by Allison Williams, and her colleagues Cole and Tess, played by Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps, are skeptical on reviving a killer robot to fight another killer robot. Cady, however, believes this might be what gives M3GAN a second chance.
The sequel focuses on action where the first film was a horror comedy. Granted, there are hints of horror with there being two murderous robots instead of one. “M3GAN 2.0” also fully embraces itself as a sassy horror film with Brittany Spears’ “Oops!…I Did It Again” playing in the background.
Many of the members of the first movie return with Gerard Johnstone as director and James Wan and Akela Cooper as writers. M3GAN will still have Amie Donald playing the physical role of the robot while Jenna Davis voices her.
The line “And while you’re at it, make me taller” is a small reference to Donald also being taller after the release of the first “M3GAN” and an age rating is still yet to be disclosed. With M3GAN rebuilt, she’ll be ready to slay the summer box office.