"M3GAN 2.0" Trailer: Everyone's Favorite Dancing Killer Robot Must Face Off Against a New A.I. Assassin in This Darkly Comic Horror Sequel with Allison Williams
Allison Williams returns to team up with the original M3GAN in a battle against a new rogue A.I. assassin, blending horror, humor, and killer dance moves in this highly anticipated follow-up.
When M3GAN opened in theaters in December of 2022, it quickly became a global box office sensation, grossing $180 million worldwide, in part thanks to a highly effective TikTok promotional campaign. The film also proved that the evil doll trope could be successfully upgraded for the tech age, transforming an A.I. robot from a thing of wonder into a thing of fear. After all, M3GAN is a little A.I. monster that will have you screaming in pure terror as it dances its way into your nightmares.
But here’s the thing: despite mostly receiving positive reviews from critics, the film faced some minor backlash from horror fans who were disappointed by its PG-13 kills and lack of intense scares. We didn’t see it that way. True, the film could be viewed as a scary horror movie for preteens, perhaps serving as a gateway for them to explore more frightening horror films down the line. It may not have been as gory or terrifying as some hardcore fans hoped, but it definitely found its sweet spot with a wider audience. And we’ve always believed the film worked better as a straight-up horror satire, playing up the comedy rather than ramping up the gore. The blend of humor and horror made it more fun than frightening, and that’s what made it so darn entertaining.
M3GAN 2.0, the inevitable sequel to the hit film, seems to be fully leaning into the idea of it being a horror comedy. The official full-length trailer has dropped, offering a glimpse of what's to come—and yes, it’s more ridiculous than ever. Common sense is thrown out the window in favor of an all-out showdown between a rogue M3GAN killer doll, now designed as a female assassin android, and the original M3GAN, who has been reprogrammed and upgraded to protect the very people she once tried to slaughter. Let bygones be bygones, we guess.
Allison Williams returns to reprise her role as Gemma, the brilliant A.I. scientist and computer engineer who created the M3GAN program and doll. When she learns that her original designs were stolen and turned into a homicidal autonomous android named Amelia, which is now on the loose and possibly headed for her and her beloved niece Cady (again played by Violet McGraw), Gemma comes up with a plan so crazy, it just might work.
Gemma decides to wake up the original evil M3GAN doll and reinstate it. But to make sure the doll doesn’t go back to her evil ways, Gemma plans to modify M3GAN, teaching her to understand the wrongs of her past behavior, transforming her into a better robot who fights on the side of good. However, to take on Amelia, M3GAN will need to be stronger, a little taller, but still have those same lethal dance moves that will definitely come into play when the showdown happens.
Yes, it’s a little bit like the plot of Terminator 2. We always felt the first M3GAN film had a bit of an Aliens vibe, particularly in the showdown between two would-be mothers—Gemma and M3GAN—both fiercely protective of the same “child,” Cady.
Just as Terminator 2 reimagines the role of the killer cyborg, M3GAN 2.0 seems poised to do the same thing. This time, it’s killer A.I. robot versus killer A.I. robot. Who will come out on top, Amelia or M3GAN? The stakes are higher, the battles are more intense, and it’s anyone’s guess who will be left standing when the dust settles.
15-year-old New Zealand dancer and actress Amie Donald is back to perform the body movement and dance moves of M3GAN, while Jenna Davis also returns as her voice.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian actress Ivanna Sakhno, from the Star Wars series Ahsoka and Pacific Rim Uprising, takes on the role of Amelia, the lethal A.I. assassin.
Other returning cast members include Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps as Gemma’s loyal tech teammates, Cole and Tess, while joining the cast of the sequel are Aristotle Athari (Hacks), Timm Sharp (Percy Jackson and the Olympians), and Grammy winner and 11-time Emmy nominee Jemaine Clement (What We Do in the Shadows).
New Zealand horror filmmaker Gerard Johnstone (Housebound), who directed the first M3GAN film, is also back to helm the sequel. This time, Johnstone also penned the script, based on characters by Akela Cooper and James Wan.
Produced by James Wan (of Atomic Monster), Jason Blum (of Blumhouse), and Allison Williams, M3GAN 2.0 will be hitting theaters this summer, starting on June 27th. Watch the full trailer, above.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
Two years after M3GAN, a marvel of artificial intelligence, went rogue and embarked on a murderous (and impeccably choreographed) rampage and was subsequently destroyed, M3GAN’s creator Gemma (Allison Williams) has become a high-profile author and advocate for government oversight of A.I. Meanwhile, Gemma’s niece Cady (Violet McGraw), now 14, has become a teenager, rebelling against Gemma’s overprotective rules.
Unbeknownst to them, the underlying tech for M3GAN has been stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno), the ultimate killer infiltration spy. But as Amelia’s self-awareness increases, she becomes decidedly less interested in taking orders from humans. Or in keeping them around.
With the future of human existence on the line, Gemma realizes that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN (Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) and give her a few upgrades, making her faster, stronger, and more lethal. As their paths collide, the original A.I bitch is about to meet her match.
Great comparison to T2! Gotta say, this trailer makes this look like a lot of fun, doesn’t take itself too seriously and is aware of what it is and isn’t.