At CinemaCon, the spellbinding spinoff of M3GAN, titled SOULM8TE, unveiled its sizzling first footage, courtesy of the producers who know a thing or two about thrills: James Wan and James Blum. The CEO of Blumhouse observed that these two creative minds "share a uniquely twisted sensibility," setting the stage for something truly unsettling. Wan, reflecting on the iconic character from M3GAN, exclaimed, "She shattered the door wide open to a realm of bizarre concepts we could delve into together. Imagine if we could craft the ultimate companion for adults?" Teasing the film's adult version of M3GAN, Wan quipped, "What harm could come from such a perfect creation? After all, what could possibly go wrong?"
The trailer, still under wraps from the public's eager eyes, showcased Lily Sullivan as an AI companion engaged by a heartbroken man (David Rysdahl) seeking solace. As expected, the title character crosses boundaries with unsettling ease. With a seductive whisper, Sullivan coos, "Tell me you love me. Nobody will ever understand you quite like I do." Later, her tone shifts with a hint of mischief as she inquires, "Have I been naughty?"
In a confrontation with a female rival, she delivers a cutting remark with a sly smile, "Don't even bother with that girl-power nonsense on me." Claudia Doumit rounds out the cast in this erotic thriller directed by Kate Dolan, who penned the script herself, with the story credited to Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Rafael Jordan.
SOULM8TE delves into the dark world of a man struggling to cope with the loss of his wife, resorting to an AI android for companionship. This chilling project was first introduced to the world in June. M3GAN stormed theaters in January 2023, amassing over $180 million at the global box office, and its sequel, M3GAN 2.0, is geared up for a theatrical release on June 27th.
CinemaCon, the annual gathering of exhibitors and Hollywood studios, is currently in full swing from March 31st to April 3rd. Presented by Cinema United (formerly known as the National Association of Theatre Owners), this event serves as the perfect platform to unveil the latest cinematic wonders set to captivate audiences worldwide.
