Universal Delays M3GAN Spinoff ‘Soulm8te’ Amid Franchise Reevaluation

The new film ‘Soulm8te’ has been officially delayed. Universal Pictures removed the movie from its January 8, 2026, release date. The decision comes as the studio reassesses its plans for the M3GAN universe.This move follows the underperformance of the recent sequel, ‘M3GAN 2.0’. The lack of any promotional campaign for ‘Soulm8te’ signaled trouble for weeks. Universal is now reportedly considering selling the finished film to another distributor.

Sequel’s Box Office Struggle Leads to Major Pivot

The core reason for the delay is clear. ‘M3GAN 2.0’ failed to meet expectations at the box office last summer. According to industry figures, it earned just $39.1 million worldwide.This was a massive drop from the first film. The original ‘M3GAN’ was a viral hit in early 2023. It grossed a strong $180 million globally.Blumhouse founder Jason Blum acknowledged the misstep. He spoke about it in an interview on The Town podcast. “We classically over-thought how powerful people’s engagement was with her,” Blum said.The studio thought the character could shift genres. They believed she could transition from a horror icon to a summer blockbuster hero. That assumption proved to be incorrect.

What’s Next for the Finished ‘Soulm8te’ Film?

The delayed movie is already completed. A trailer was shown privately at CinemaCon last April. The footage revealed a chilling new AI character.The story follows a grieving man, played by David Rysdahl. He hires an AI companion portrayed by Lily Sullivan. Her character delivers unnerving lines about love and intimacy.The film is directed by Kate Dolan. The script is based on a story by James Wan and others. Its future now depends on finding a new distribution partner.Universal’s hesitation shows a cautious new approach. The studio is rethinking how to handle its surprise horror hit. The fate of the broader franchise is now in question.

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The ‘Soulm8te’ release delayed announcement marks a significant setback for the M3GAN series. The studio’s next steps will determine if the AI horror universe has a future.

Info at your fingertips

Why was ‘Soulm8te’ delayed?

The primary reason is the poor box office performance of ‘M3GAN 2.0’. Universal is reconsidering its strategy for the franchise and may sell the completed film to another studio.

Is the ‘Soulm8te’ movie canceled?

No, the film is finished but delayed. Universal removed it from its release calendar and is likely to shop it to other distributors for a future date.

How much did ‘M3GAN 2.0’ make?

The sequel earned $39.1 million globally. This was a major drop from the first film’s $180 million worldwide gross.

Who is directing ‘Soulm8te’?

The film is directed by Kate Dolan. The story was conceived by James Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Rafael Jordan.

What did Jason Blum say about the sequel’s performance?

Blum admitted the studio overthought the character’s appeal. He said they mistakenly believed they could change her genre and core identity