M3GAN 2.0starAllison Williamshas drawn an unexpected comparison between Gerard Johnstone’s upcoming horror comedy and a hard-hitting Netflix drama that released earlier this year to rave reviews from critics and viewers. The actress, who plays roboticist Gemma in the film, has asserted that the sequel to the box-office juggernaut from Blumhouse and Atomic Monster holds the same importance as the hugely successful British crime dramaAdolescencedespite the two projects being vastly different in terms of their plots and styles.
Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne’s Netflix breakout hit,Adolescence, topped the streaming charts in its first week and racked up enough views to dethroneStranger Thingsasthe second most-streamed series of all timeon the platform. It generated significant buzz and sparked conversations about the impact of online spaces as well as broader issues that were raised in the four-part drama, centering around a teen accused of murdering a female classmate. Not many people would bundle it in the same category asM3GAN 2.0,which looks to be much more witty than gritty, but Williams told GamesRadar+ that the two projects share similarities in that they both carry an important underlying message. She explained:
“I’m thinking aboutAdolescence.There’s such a great, important, necessary conversation happening right now about what happens when children interface with technology. And I think we’re all learning together. The technology evolved faster than we could talk about it. I think movies like this give us an opportunity to pause.”
M3GAN: Why It’s an Important Commentary on Parenting Through Technology
At its core, the new horror movie M3GAN holds important messages about parenting and technology.
M3GANushered in a new viral villainthat captivated pop culture, as Gemma created an android doll powered by artificial intelligence as a companion for her niece, Cady. But the playmate pal starts to behave in unexpected ways and soon reveals a murderous side.M3GAN 2.0brings back the titular antagonist with a few advanced upgrades, making her faster, stronger, and more lethal than before, as she goes up against a new military-grade robot called Amelia. Both films explore themes of AI and its potential dangers, particularly as the technology becomes more sophisticated and integrated into people’s lives. Williams says the world’s evolving relationship with AI was a major consideration in the sequel:
“It’s easy for a parent to say, like, ‘obviously a M3GAN would be a bad idea,’ but then having the next stage of that conversation, ‘okay, what is a healthy relationship like with AI with technology? What’s the distinction between the two?’ With this movie we talked about that a lot, because Gemma’s whole organization is focused primarily on AI and children and the world, rather than just technology in the world.”
‘M3GAN 2.0’ Is Already a Hot Topic of Conversation
Universal Pictures teased a “hot bot summer” with the final trailer forM3GAN 2.0. The sequel, hailing from horror titans James Wan for Atomic Monster, Jason Blum for Blumhouse, and writer-director Gerard Johnstone, is scheduled to release in theaters on June 27, but has already become a hot topic of conversation (and not because of its central bot). The footage gave fans of the franchise a glimpse of the killer doll’s second outing, butpeople were divided about the film seriesseemingly switching from the horror genre to become an all-out actioner.
With the M3GAN-led movies, it can be difficult to determine whether they’re horror films with a humorous edge or comedy movies that embrace the scares, but Williams notes thatM3GAN 2.0will have people “walk out of the movie laughing” either way. However, she also reaffirms that its light-hearted moments will not be the only talking point. “There are real themes underlying this movie, like every second of it is really grounded in something urgent to talk about,” she says. “It exaggerates the conversation, which sometimes makes it easier to have.”
Source:GamesRadar+
