JP Nunez
We’re only about halfway through January and 2023 is already starting to feel like a bit of a whirlwind for the horror genre. First, M3GAN kicked off the year with an absolute bang, slashing its way to the highly sought-after trifecta of box office success, critical acclaim, and love from the fans. Then, a bit over a week ago, we found out that a sequel was in development, and I was thrilled. I love this movie, so I can’t wait for part two.
And now we know exactly when that follow-up is coming. In the latest round of horror news, it’s been revealed that a M3GAN sequel isn’t just in development, but the follow-up has been officially announced, and it even has a release date and a title: M3GAN 2.0 will be hitting theaters on January 17, 2025.
Akela Cooper is returning to write the script and stars Allison Williams and Violet McGraw are also coming back for the sequel. At this point, Gerard Johnstone isn’t set to return to the director’s chair, but according to THR, the film’s producers hope to get him back on board as well.
To be fair, horror sequels are notoriously hit or miss (and that’s being a bit generous), so I’m sure plenty of people will be less than thrilled about this news. But the way I see it, if any recent horror movie is ripe for a sequel, it would be M3GAN. To explain why, I’m going to have to venture a bit into spoiler territory, so if you haven’t seen the film, you can stop reading right now. But if you have seen it, or if you don’t care about spoilers, continue reading on to see why I think M3GAN 2.0 has a chance to be great.
As much as I love the horror and comedy in M3GAN, the real heart and soul of that movie is the relationship between Cady and Gemma (played by McGraw and Williams). Their journey together gives this film some real emotional substance, and since these characters are returning for the sequel, there’s a real chance that M3GAN 2.0 will be every bit as weighty as the first movie. It has the foundation it needs to be a truly great horror sequel, and at this point in the development process, that’s really all we can ask for.
