Spinning off from the horror filmM3GAN, a brand-new technological terror is in the works entitledSOULM8TE, and there are already exciting details, including a release date. 2022’sM3GANbrought the fear of modern technology to the forefront as it told the story of an AI-powered doll that was developed to help children cope with the loneliness and loss. Naturally, the titular doll goes haywire and uses circular logic to justify destroying anyone and anything that gets between her and her primary objective.M3GAN’s unique brand of tech-hysteria is incredibly prescient, andSOULM8TEwill continue that trend.
It didn’t take long forM3GAN 2.0to get a green light, and the franchise is already expanding further with the new spinoff.SOULM8TEis a natural continuation of the ideas explored inM3GAN, but will instead focus on the loneliness of adulthood as opposed to the innocence seen in its predecessor. This quick expansion into a bona fide cinematic universe is helping Blumhouse stay ahead of the curve, especially as new technological advancements open the door for more and more frightening opportunities at the movies. With a release date already stamped,SOULM8TEis well on its way.
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SOULM8TE Latest News
New Footage Premieres At CinemaCon 2025
With theM3GANspinoff coming soon, the latest news arrives in the form offootage fromSOULM8TEat CinemaCon2025. The annual movie event featured a panel from Universal Studios, who dropped the first footage from the techno horror flick. Unfortunately, CinemaCon panels aren’t for public consumption, and the footage isn’t available to view right now. However,ScreenRantwas in attendance and has provided a thorough description of what was seen in the preview.
Read the footage description below:
It begins with someone delivering an adult robot to an apartment. She is then shown doing all sorts of things like cleaning, offering companionship, etc. She then tells the guy who purchased her: “I love you. Tell me you love me.” She becomes obsessed. She threatens and harms anyone who comes close to the guy who purchased her. His girlfriend tries to negotiate with her, but the robot says, “Don’t try that girl power sh*t with me,” then tries to drown her.
SOULM8TE Release Date
The Technological Terror Arrives In 2026
With such a distant release date, it’s possible that the premiere could be changed to facilitate production delays, or to avoid competition at the box office.
Playing the long game, Blumhouse has already announced the release date for the upcomingM3GANspinoff,SOULM8TE, but it will be quite some time before that date actually arrives. Having announced the movie in June 2024, Blumhouse has revealed thatSOULM8TEwon’t hit theaters until August 07, 2025. With such a distant release date, it’s possible that the premiere could be changed to facilitate production delays, or to avoid competition at the box office.
The extended release date also comes after the debut ofM3GAN 2.0, and it could be that the franchise is being specifically blocked out like the MCU or other cinematic universes. While there’s been no news confirming that the two movies are specifically linked, the fact thatSOULM8TEis being tagged as a spinoff suggests there will be overlap. This could mean that there will be information about the spinoff in the upcoming sequel.
Who Is Making SOULM8TE?
A Horror All-Star Team Is Behind The Project
Though many details about the film remain elusive, there is a veritable all-star team of horror working behind the scenes onSOULM8TE. First and foremost, the film is being produced by thehit horror movie factory Blumhouse, and is beingco-produced by James Wan through his Atomic Monster label. Blumhouse oversaw the production of 2022’sM3GANand has delivered a slew of hit films over the past decade and a half. Wan is no light-weight himself, having created theSaw,Insidious, andConjuringfranchises.
The movie is being directed by relative newcomer Kate Dolanwho first turned heads with her 2017 horror short filmCatcalls. However, Dolan’s first feature, 2021’sYou Are Not My Mother, gained her the most attention and she brought new life into the folk horror genre. Dolan also rewrote the script, which was originally penned by Rafael Jordan from a story by Wan and Ingrid Bisu.
SOULM8TE Cast Details
Lily Sullivan Plays The AI Doll
As the upcoming thriller continues to take shape, major casting announcements have already been made. Perhaps most importantly,SOULM8TEhas found its AI monster andhas tapped Lily Sullivan (Evil Dead Rise) to portray the burgeoning horror icon. Nothing is known about Sullivan’s doll character, and it’s clear she will be more humanlike than M3GAN. Joining Sullivan isDavid Rysdahl (Fargo), who will play a lonely man who turns to AI companionshipafter the tragic death of his wife. Claudia Doumit (The Boys) has also been cast in an undisclosed role.
SOULM8TE Story Details
A Love Letter To The Domestic Thrillers Of The Past
With many aspects of the spinoff still being kept under wraps, only the bare basics of the story ofSOULM8TEhave been announced. In the film,a man (David Rysdahl) will turn to technology to help cope with the loss of his wife by acquiring an AI-powered android (Lily Sullivan). As withM3GAN,his robotic girlfriend will quickly turn into a dangerous threat, though the element of erotic thrillers is a welcome change of pace from the aforementioned predecessor.
The film has been described as a call-back to the domestic thrillers of previous decades, and it will likely use movies likeSingle White FemaleandFatal Attractionas a compass. However, it clearly aims to add a touch of modern flare to the classic relationship-gone-bad formula by tapping into fears about the rising encroachment of technology into day to day life.SOULM8TEwill undoubtedly keep the audience on the edge of their seats whileoffering a stark warning about the dehumanizing effect of technology.
SOULM8TE
Cast
Soulm8te follows a grieving man who uses an artificially intelligent android to cope with the loss of his wife. However, his efforts to create a sentient companion lead to unintended consequences as the android transforms from a harmless lovebot into a lethal soulmate.
