Universal has removed the planned M3GAN spinoff Soulm8te from its 2026 schedule. The studio will now shop the film to other companies in hopes of finding a new home. This decision follows a rough year for the M3GAN franchise and raises questions about the future of the AI horror universe.
Why the spinoff lost its spot
Originally, Soulm8te was set to open on January 9, 2026. The story follows a grieving man who buys an android to help cope with his wife’s death. The premise mixes grief, desire, and artificial intelligence into a dark thriller. When the first M3GAN film surprised audiences with a $181 million worldwide run, Universal and Blumhouse saw clear franchise potential. However, the sequel M3GAN 2.0 earned only $39 million, far below expectations. That drop in box office heat made studios hesitant to fund additional projects.
Box office performance and studio confidence
The sequel still made a profit against its $25 million budget, but the steep decline signaled waning audience interest. As a result, Universal chose to pause further expansion until it can gauge stronger demand.
Blumhouse faces a mixed year
Blumhouse, the horror powerhouse behind M3GAN, has experienced both hits and misses this year. Successful titles like Black Phone 2 and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 generated $131 million and $175 million worldwide, respectively. In contrast, films such as Wolf Man, The Woman in the Yard, and Drop underperformed relative to their budgets.
Impact on the AI horror slate
Despite recent successes, the stumble of M3GAN 2.0 cooled enthusiasm for darker AI stories. Soulm8te remains a viable project, but without the momentum of the original hit, it faces an uphill climb to secure a new distributor.
Another studio may still see value in the adult‑oriented take on AI horror that Soulm8te offers. If a buyer steps forward, the film could launch a fresh chapter for the franchise under different branding. Conversely, if interest stays low, the project might be shelved indefinitely, marking a short‑lived experiment for the M3GAN universe.
Either outcome will shape how studios approach spin‑offs and side stories in the horror genre. Fans of the original doll will watch closely to see whether the AI horror world expands or fades.
Source: Geek Tyrant
