M3GAN 2.0 Star Unpacks the Unlikely Return of Her Deadly AI

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Despite heavy odds, the initial release of “M3GAN” hit theaters in January 2023 and achieved not only significant box office profits but also garnered positive reviews – a rarity for horror films. The title character, a doll, skyrocketed in popularity, warranting a sequel approval. Interestingly, the main cast and crew members from the first film returned, offering an action-packed journey instead of a traditional horror experience. This shift enabled lead actress Jenna Davis, who voiced M3GAN, to delve into fresh aspects of the doll for “M3GAN 2.0.” Now, enthusiasts can obtain the unrated version of “M3GAN 2.0” for purchase.

In the next chapter, the original creative minds behind M3GAN return to revamp the story. Producer James Wan, Jason Blum, and director Gerard Johnstone reunite to rejuvenate M3GAN for a fresh endeavor. When an advanced android designed as a lethal weapon endangers Cady, M3GAN persuades her creator, Gemma, to enhance her AI system, making her even more formidable. Equipped with cutting-edge upgrades and retaining her signature sass, M3GAN responds fiercely against the aspiring technological menace in an intense showdown to determine the ultimate malevolent machine built for unbridled chaos.

As a passionate cinephile, I had the privilege of chatting one-on-one with Davis about rejoining the franchise, her thoughts on the upcoming sequel, and the surprising demands from her devoted fanbase.

Have you encountered situations where fans of M3GAN 2.0 bring up the film and ask you to recite a specific line or quote from either the first or second movie?

Jenna Davis: Here’s how I’d rephrase it:

For the first movie, my favorite quote is “Isn’t that insane?” That’s the one for the first time. As for the second film, it’s amusingly become “Hang onto your vaginas,” which I find hilarious. People have asked me to write this line on their bodies or merchandise, and it’s really strange. There’ve been so many who adore that specific line, finding it either on a part of their body or as merchandise. It’s just unexpected, something I never thought I’d do in my life – write such a phrase on someone’s hand.

Even though the film has only been released for three weeks, it’s remarkable how one particular line from the movie has become so popular that people are asking to have it written on various parts of their bodies.

I know, it’s quite surreal, for sure.

Following the release of the first M3GAN, when everyone was discussing the possibility of a follow-up, such as “Will there be a second film? What’s next for M3GAN?” I wondered about my own aspirations for Megan in the sequel. How did the subsequent story align with my vision of where M3GAN was headed?

I was eagerly anticipating the introduction of a new antagonist, as I’m excited to witness M3GAN engaging in a rivalry with another character. It made me even more delighted that the sequel indeed included this dynamic, particularly since it involved another artificial intelligence.

Initially, they hinted at a competition between us, but I didn’t anticipate it would be against another artificial intelligence. It’s fascinating to me because AI has become such an integral part of our society that I find it plausible, and that’s somewhat unsettling.

Initially, it seemed like the movie focused heavily on action sequences, and I wasn’t quite sure where the storyline was heading. I had anticipated a greater emphasis on horror elements, but instead, there was a surprising shift towards action scenes. This turn of events was exciting because we got to witness M3GAN in a fresh perspective that I believe audiences hadn’t experienced before. Playing her character was enjoyable as it allowed me to delve into an unexplored aspect of her personality – this almost heroic side. We didn’t lose the quirky elements and charm that made M3GAN popular in the first film, but we certainly emphasized more action scenes for this installment, which added a new layer of excitement to the storyline.

Between the first film and the second, M3GAN has been subtly evolving in various computer systems, and some aspects of her character have slightly altered. Did you notice any adjustments in your speech tone or was it more about how certain lines were spoken? Or did you strive to maintain your original performance as closely as feasible?

In the first movie, some viewers have pointed out that the character’s voice changes from start to finish, and this was intentionally done. Since artificial intelligence continues to advance and grow more powerful, we deliberately designed M3GAN to exhibit a similar progression, particularly in terms of her vocal tone.

In the sequel, we continued the tone from the first M3GAN film, yet maintained her distinctive attitude. Notably, we enhanced aspects like her singing, displaying more of her vocal skills, which allowed for some creative exploration. The challenge was to develop her evolution in a way that was both plausible for an AI character and aligned with the progression of artificial intelligence as it interacts more with humans. In simpler terms, we aimed to make M3GAN’s growth feel organic and authentic to AI development.

In the two years since the initial movie, we aimed to demonstrate M3GAN’s growth while preserving the qualities that made her appealing. This was our main challenge, yet many viewers have observed changes in her tone, phrasing, interactions, particularly with Cady and Gemma, which have developed further in the sequel. Yet, it’s still M3GAN, just a bit more advanced, not so different as to be unrecognizable.

In M3GAN 2.0, you’re heard as a disembodied voice, initially observed within a temporary, smaller form, and then the advanced M3GAN model is unveiled. Does your vocal delivery adapt to the body type it’s associated with?

In making the second film, we aimed to ensure that the transitions between characters, as our actress moved between them, provided a unique and engaging experience for viewers, rather than confusing or boring them. Specifically, we wanted viewers to easily recognize when M3GAN was on screen and remain interested throughout.

I aimed to ensure that every character, whether it was M3GAN as a Teletubby or within Gemma’s thoughts, or even Gemma herself in her distinctive attire, would witness various aspects of M3GAN. As you pointed out, it was crucial to maintain the original tone and essence of M3GAN, but also explore how she adapts in different scenarios – “What are the unique quirks and expressions that reveal different sides of M3GAN, while still preserving her core character?

In a different phrasing: You mentioned your surprise at how the movie emphasized action instead of traditional horror. As you watched Allison [Williams] and Ivanna [Sakhno] perform their action sequences, did any part of you envy them for getting to do such scenes, or are you grateful for being able to work in comfort with sweatpants on?

As a cinephile, let me share an interesting twist: since most of my recordings for the sequel were done before filming, I didn’t get to witness the action scenes until the very end. In fact, for the first movie, I joined during post-production. But this time around, I was part of the process from the start, in the middle, and at the finish line, which was a blast! However, because I recorded most of my lines before they even started shooting, they wanted to use my voice on set, so I had no idea what would unfold on the big screen. It was quite a surprise for me!

As a movie enthusiast, I didn’t anticipate the whirlwind of action in this project, but boy, was I wrong! The action genre is simply exhilarating, and if given the chance to physically embody it, I’d jump at the opportunity. However, I’m just overjoyed to be included in this film and this franchise, lending my voice to M3GAN. It’s a privilege and an absolute joy that I’m deeply grateful for.

I’m excited about taking on an active role and finding opportunities to do so, but the exceptional performance of M3GAN’s actor, Amie Donald, in her physical work has left me in awe. I feel incredibly fortunate to be voicing her character. This experience is demanding because I also engage in on-camera acting, but it forces me to stretch my creative muscles and immerse myself fully in each scene. Since there are no other actors around, I need to rely heavily on my imagination to visualize the situation. In that sense, this challenge has helped me grow as an actor by pushing me to create a believable performance without relying on others or knowing exactly how it will turn out.

Now that M3GAN 2.0 has been released, it’s obvious that many fans are going to watch it at home and the fanbase is likely to expand even more. It won’t be long before there’s a M3GAN 3.0. If you could have anything in a third movie or if there was an opportunity to further develop M3GAN in a third installment, what would that be?

In my opinion, I’d like to reintroduce some of the chilling aspects from the initial movie, as there was a unique blend of fun and eeriness with M3GAN that I enjoyed. However, I want to maintain her quirky personality and humor as well. It intrigues me to consider how she might interact with other children, particularly Cady’s peers. While M3GAN is very kind to Cady, I wonder if she would behave similarly towards other kids the same age? She wasn’t exactly friendly to Brandon in the first film, so it’s interesting to ponder how she would react in such a scenario.

It seems limitless for M3GAN in terms of potential, as she can venture anywhere, yet I am inclined towards infusing some horror back into the storyline. The bond between M3GAN and Cady intrigues me, and I believe there is room to delve deeper into their relationship. However, I’m uncertain if it’s my place to decide; perhaps Universal and Blumhouse will take charge of this. I remain hopeful that we get to follow her story further and discover where it leads us, but for now, we can only wait and find out.

Fans can purchase M3GAN 2.0 Unrated now.

The conversation you see here has been shortened and made clearer. To get in touch with Patrick Cavanaugh, find him on Twitter or Instagram.

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2025-07-21 19:44