M3GAN spin-off movie SOULM8TE has been dropped from release just a few weeks before its planned premiere. The erotic thriller focuses on a man who gets a sex robot after the loss of his wife. Part of the M3GAN universe, the movie was due to hit the big screen on 9 January, though Deadline is now reporting that studio Universal has now pulled the feature from its slot.
However, it is being shopped around, with Paramount horror Primate moved onto its original date.
Featuring the likes of Fargo's David Rysdahl, Evil Dead Rise's Lily Sullivan and The Boys' Claudia Doumit, SOULM8TE focuses on a man who acquires an android… with deadly consequences.
"In an attempt to create a truly sentient partner, the man inadvertently turns a harmless lovebot into a deadly soulmate," the synopsis reads.
Previously speaking about the project, director Kate Dolan said: "Fundamentally, I view this film as an exploration of relationships and loneliness. Despite technological advances, there are enduring human truths we cannot escape, and I am looking forward to delving into those depths."
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Co-story writer James Wan further called it "a thrilling and seductive addition to the M3GAN universe", adding: "We're excited to partner with Kate to bring this story to life with her unique cinematic vision and point of view."
M3GAN, which focuses on a killer AI doll, was released back in 2023, and became an unexpected commercial and critical hit.
Related: Does M3GAN 2.0 have a post-credit scene?
A follow-up hit the big screen last year, though fared far less well, flopping at the box office while also landing an average 57% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
In Digital Spy's two-star verdict, we wrote: "Despite a promising genre switch, M3GAN 2.0 doesn't evolve enough to improve on the original."
SOULM8TE currently doesn't have a release date. M3GAN 2.0 is available to buy and rent digitally.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
