M3GAN 2.0’s Ivanna Sakhno on Going “Bananas” for Horror Sequel

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Blumhouse Productions has consistently brought captivating and cherished universes to life, one of which features the chilling title character in the movie M3GAN. Before even hitting the big screen, sneak peeks at the menacing robot sparked a social media frenzy, with anticipation largely being met by the film itself. Director Gerard Johnstone further tested limits for his sequel, sending M3GAN 2.0 into even more bizarre territories, largely due to the addition of the new lethal doll, Amelia, portrayed by Ivanna Sakhno. The actress recently shared insights about joining this universe and how past roles helped her embody the android. M3GAN 2.0 is set to hit theaters on June 27th.

Sakhno expressed his enthusiasm about continuing M3GAN’s story in an interview with ComicBook. He finds it thrilling that Gerard isn’t afraid to dive into the unknown and explore a world that was created and cherished by fans. Sakhno describes this approach as ‘unapologetically bananas.’ In simple terms, he feels proud, excited, and grateful to be involved in the film. Additionally, he believes that in today’s challenging times, audiences deserve an opportunity to laugh, while also leaving the cinema pondering deeper questions posed by the movie.

In the sequel, titled “M3GAN 2”, we find that two years have passed since M3GAN, an advanced AI creation, turned rogue and went on a deadly rampage before being destroyed. Its creator, Gemma (Allison Williams), has since become a renowned author and advocate for AI regulation. Meanwhile, her niece Cady (Violet McGraw) has grown into a typical rebellious teenager, clashing with Gemma’s protective rules. Unbeknownst to them, the technology behind M3GAN has been misused by a powerful defense contractor to develop a military-grade AI named Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno, known from “Ahsoka” and “Pacific Rim: Uprising”). However, as Amelia’s self-awareness grows, she becomes less inclined to follow human commands or coexist peacefully with humans. With the fate of humanity at stake, Gemma concludes that the only solution is to revive M3GAN (Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis), giving her additional speed, strength, and lethality. As their paths cross, the original AI is about to encounter its most formidable adversary.

In a past role, Sakhno was not new to taking part in diverse, genre-blending projects, as she starred in Star Wars: Ahsoka. Although these universes belong to the science fiction genre, they necessitated her to adopt distinct methods for physical preparation.

The actor noted that when you take on multiple roles with heavy physical demands, you gain a deeper understanding of your own body and its capabilities. This connection, he suggested, is present in both the characters Ahsoka and M3GAN. Generally speaking, Amelia’s movements and stunts differ due to her focus on combat training (including Krav Maga) and gun use, as opposed to swordfighting and martial arts with lightsabers like Ahsoka. However, both experiences help build confidence in one’s body and encourage a commitment to perform as many stunts as possible, given time, safety considerations, and other constraints.

M3GAN 2.0 hits theaters on June 27th.

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2025-06-26 19:40