Director Gerard Johnstone has revealed that there were intense discussions among the film’s creators about including multiple vagina jokes in the upcoming sequel, M3GAN 2.0.
The murderous doll, originally brought to life by Amie Donald in the first film, returns two years later alongside stars Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Jenna Davis, Brian Jordan Alvarez, and Jen Van Epps.
This sequel takes a fresh approach, featuring a battle between M3GAN and a new robotic creation named Amelia, played by Ivanna Sakhno. Amelia is transformed into a military android but becomes self-aware and turns against her creators. This forces Gemma (Allison Williams) to upgrade M3GAN’s software in a desperate fight for survival.
Speaking to Metro ahead of the film’s June 27 release, Johnstone shared insights about the character’s sharp wit and whether the filmmakers risked crossing a “really fine line” with the script’s humor.
“There were talks about whether you could have two vagina jokes in one movie,” he admitted. “But in the end, the fun won out, so we went for it.”
Johnstone explained that while they were mindful of balancing humor with tension, the marketing campaign has sometimes made the movie seem more campy than it truly is. “This film walks a fine line between tension and humor,” he said, “and we were careful never to cross that line.”
Despite concerns from fans after the sequel’s trailer premiered—some of whom worried the horror elements had been replaced by action—Johnstone assured that the “horror DNA” remains intact.
He compared M3GAN 2.0 to the evolution of the Evil Dead franchise, which began as horror but gradually incorporated more humor and adventure without losing its essence.
“For me, it’s about extending the character,” Johnstone said. “Evil Dead 1 scared me, 2 was scary but funny, and 3 became a full-on adventure. You don’t have to be limited as long as you stay true to the core story.”
He further explained that if a technology like M3GAN existed, it would logically be adapted for military use as an infiltration android. “Instead of drones, you’d send in something human-like for more precise strikes. So it made sense for the genre to shift,” he said.
Still, the director emphasized the film retains strong horror elements, especially in scenes like M3GAN’s lair, which deliver mood and atmosphere with a fun twist.
“By making the villain the central focus, it’s not as creepy as the first film, but it offers a different, enjoyable experience,” he concluded.
