The Original Cut of M3GAN Had a Lot More Bloodshed and The Writer Teases an Unrated Version
I thought M3GAN was an incredibly fun and entertaining horror movie and I enjoyed it a lot more than I was expecting. But, there was a cut of the film that was so much more violent and filled with a lot more bloodshed! There was an R-rated cut at one point, but the studio wanted the film to be cut down to a PG-13 rating after the first initial trailer went viral with teens.
During an interview with Los Angeles Times, the screenwriter of the film, Akela Cooper, talked about the original cut of the film and teased what it included, saying it was much gorier and the body count was a lot higher. She also teased an unrated version of the film that will be released at some point, so we will eventually get to see this more hardcore version of the movie!
"No shade to Universal, love them, and I understand that once the trailer went viral, teenagers got involved and you want them to be able to see it. There should be an unrated version at some point. ... I heard it is on the books. But yes, it was way gorier. Her body count in the script was higher than in the movie. It wasn't a Gabriel [in Malignant]-scale massacre, but she did kill a bunch more people, including a couple of characters whom [producer] James [Wan] was like, 'I like what you did with those people, but I want them to live.' I was merciless, but again, that is me. My humor is extremely dark."
I’m sure hearing that will disappoint some horror fans, director Gerard Johnstone says that he felt some of these limitations they had to work with ended up resulting in a more effective movie experience. He told Total Film:
"Making it PG-13 was something that happened after the fact, but it was always so close to PG-13 anyway. It seemed kind of a mistake not to embrace it. I even remember thinking early on, 'This could be PG-13, and some of my favorite films like Drag Me to Hell are PG-13.' So we made the decision to go PG-13 and actually reshot a couple of things."
He went on to say:
"What I was really stoked about is that when we reshot those scenes, they were more effective. It's like 'Yes, you do have to cut away at certain times,' but it's fun having to rely on sound and suggestion so much."
Producer James Wan also recently defended the PG-13 rating, saying:
“Listen, I’ve done PG-13 films, and I’ve done R-rated films. So I think it’s about whatever is most suitable for the film, and even though M3GAN is a scary movie, teenagers will really dig this. They’ll really like it, and I think it will speak to them in a big way.”
I was happy with how the movie turned out. While I am curious about the darker, more violent version of the movie, the cut that was released in theaters was fantastic and it’s a must see! Here’s the synopsis for the movie:
M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to.
When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw, The Haunting of Hill House), Gemma’s unsure and unprepared to be a parent. Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems—a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.
Allison Williams (Get Out, The Perfection) both stars in and executive produces the movie. The film also stars Ronny Chieng (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Brian Jordan Alvarez (Will & Grace), Jen Van Epps (Cowboy Bebop), Lori Dungey (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, extended edition), and Stephane Garneau-Monten (Straight Forward).
The movie is set to be released in theaters on January 13, 2023.