Photorealistic illustration of a studio desk with the 'Soulm8te' movie poster and a crossed-out release date on a calendar, symbolizing Universal Pictures pulling the film from its schedule.
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Universal removes 'Soulm8te' from release calendar

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Universal Pictures has pulled the 'M3GAN' spinoff 'Soulm8te' from its January 9, 2026, release schedule and is shopping the film to other studios. The decision follows the underwhelming box office performance of 'M3GAN 2.0' earlier this year. Directed by Kate Dolan, 'Soulm8te' is an erotic sci-fi thriller produced by Blumhouse and Atomic Monster.

Background on the 'M3GAN' Franchise

The original 'M3GAN' arrived in 2022 as a PG-13 horror comedy about a murderous AI doll, grossing $181 million worldwide on a modest budget. It became a sleeper hit, blending dark humor with technological terror and spawning interest in an expanded cinematic universe. However, the sequel 'M3GAN 2.0,' released in summer 2025, failed to replicate that success, earning just $39 million globally against a $25 million production budget—a sharp decline that signaled waning audience enthusiasm.

Details on 'Soulm8te'

'Soulm8te' was positioned as a companion piece to the 'M3GAN' series, exploring similar themes of artificial intelligence gone wrong. The plot follows a grieving man who purchases an AI android to cope with his wife's death, only to transform it into a deadly partner. Billed as an erotic thriller inspired by 1990s classics, the film stars Lily Sullivan, David Rysdahl, Claudia Doumit, Isabelle Bonfrer, Emma Ramos, and Sydney Blackburn.

Kate Dolan, known for her 2021 indie horror 'You Are Not My Mother,' wrote and directed. Production comes from Blumhouse's Jason Blum and Atomic Monster's James Wan, with story credits to Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Rafael Jordan, and screenplay by Dolan and Jordan. Executive producers include Michael Clear, Judson Scott, and Bisu.

Reasons for the Pull and Future Prospects

The removal from Universal's calendar aligns with the studio avoiding a direct clash with Paramount's 'Primate' on the same date. Sources indicate the move reflects caution after 'M3GAN 2.0's' flop, despite recent Blumhouse successes like 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2,' which opened to $64 million domestically and reached $175 million worldwide. No specific landing spot for 'Soulm8te' has been announced, but industry speculation points to streaming platforms or other distributors as potential homes.

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X users attribute Universal's removal of 'Soulm8te' from its release calendar primarily to 'M3GAN 2.0's underwhelming box office and reports of poor test screenings. Negative sentiments dominate, with claims the film is terrible and the franchise doomed, while others speculate on streaming sales or archival. Skepticism arises over lack of marketing and graphic content unfit for theaters.

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