[The Movie] Is Literally Upgraded

M3GAN 2.0‘s hero twist gets an enthusiastic reaction from returning star Violet McGraw, who explains what to expect from the new direction. The story of M3GAN 2.0 will see the titular M3GAN (Amie McDonald; voiced by Jena Davis) upgraded to fight an advanced military robot named Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno), who is trying to help AI take over the world. The movie presents itself as a sci-fi action film with the title character as a hero instead of a villain. This is a far cry from the first film, which was entirely a horror movie.

Speaking with ScreenRant‘s Tessa Smith on the Thunderbolts* red carpet, McGraw expressed her enthusiasm for M3GAN 2.0 giving the title character a heroic twist. The actor, who portrays Cady in both movies, said that the upcoming sequel is even better than the first, teasing what to expect from all the new upgrades the main character has. Check out what McGraw had to say below:

I was excited. I was like, Oh, how are we gonna do this? And Megan 2.0 is literally upgraded, like, everything you loved in the first film is in the second film. But even better.

What McGraw’s Statement Says About M3GAN 2.0

A Fun New Direction For The Horror Series

The sci-fi franchise has always dabbled with more than just horror, such as M3GAN‘s iconic dance in the hallway near the end of the movie, which became a viral trend online. The fact that she is now becoming a heroic figure in the sequel means the movie has an opportunity to lean away from its horror elements and focus more on other aspects of its story. The action elements present in the original, such as the fight at the end of M3GAN between her and Gemma (Allison Williams), show how the franchise’s transition makes sense based on the original.

Forget A M3GAN 2.0 Dance Scene, I Truly Can’t Wait For The Sequel After Seeing This Scene

M3GAN 2.0’s new footage teases a hilarious updated feature for the robot that has the potential to top even the first movie’s iconic dance scene.

McGraw’s statement indicates this transition is going to make the movie much stronger than the original, leaning into M3GAN as a likable hero instead of a feared villain. While it does signal the horror elements of the original film are getting downplayed in the sequel, the series is still growing, such as with the upcoming thriller spinoff SOULM8TE, due for release in January 2026. This new role for the would-be antagonist in M3GAN 2.0 is an upgrade with a plan behind it, and one that will build on the original, even if it’s not as much of a horror movie.

Our Take On M3GAN 2.0’s Heroic New Direction

A Sensible Transition As The Series Evolves

It makes sense for M3GAN 2.0 to have a different presentation from the original film, as M3GAN going on another killing spree would feel too much like a retread of the first movie. Based on McGraw’s excitement for the transition, it sounds like the sequel will be a worthwhile experience as it embraces the series’ new direction. As for how its action-focused events unfold, it remains to be seen what the sequel will do and how much of the original it will build upon.

M3GAN 2.0 arrives in theaters on June 27, 2025.