Blumhouse Scrubs M3GAN From Spin-Off's Press, Dumps SOULM8TE to Digital
It's finally happening! Blumhouse and Atomic Monster are dropping SOULM8TE, the erotic thriller spin-off from the M3GAN-verse, on digital services August 1st. But here's the kicker: the studio is actively scrubbing any mention of M3GAN from its press materials, opting instead to brand it "From the studio that brought you Five Nights at Freddy's and Obsession." Ouch.
Directed by Kate Dolan, SOULM8TE features Lily Sullivan (Evil Dead Rise), David Rysdahl, Claudia Doumit, and Arty Froushan. The film explores themes of desire, obsession, and AI 'connection' gone wrong, with Dolan herself calling it a "satirical, unhinged movie." Its journey to release has been rocky, with a planned theatrical debut scrapped after the original M3GAN became a viral phenomenon.
This move to distance SOULM8TE from its popular progenitor is fascinating. Is it an admission that the 'M3GAN-verse' isn't quite the goldmine they hoped, or a strategy to let the film stand on its own, away from impossible expectations? Either way, grab some friends and a drink; Dolan says it's best watched 'with zero shame about shouting at the screen.'
“The studio is actively scrubbing any mention of M3GAN from its press materials, opting instead to brand it 'From the studio that brought you Five Nights at Freddy's and Obsession.'”
Catzye Take
This whole situation is a masterclass in studio damage control, or perhaps a cynical attempt at a re-brand. Fans of M3GAN's quirky horror will want to see how SOULM8TE carves out its own identity under this awkward umbrella. What's interesting is how quickly studios can abandon an 'expanded universe' when the going gets tough.
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