Jason Blum and James Wan (The Conjuring, Saw, Insidious) are partnering for a techno-horror thriller titled M3GAN, reports THR.
Gerard Johnstone, who directed the Australian horror movie Housebound (pictured), is on board to helm the project, which has a script by Akela Cooper, a writer-supervising producer who has worked on “Luke Cage” and “American Horror Story”.
Sounding similar to what MGM is doing with their remake of Child’s Play:
“Cooper’s script tells of a brilliant toy company roboticist who uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a life-like doll programmed to emotionally bond with her newly orphaned niece. But when the doll’s programming works too well, she becomes overprotective of her new friend…with terrifying results.”
There’s an interesting spin here in that the doll is protecting the child, which is sort of reminiscent of how James Cameron approached his Terminator sequel.
Part of the origin of the project lies at Wan’s Atomic Monster where he and his execs were kicking around film ideas and landed upon one about a killer doll, explains the site. Wan had already flirted with creepy and possessed dolls with movies such as Annabelle but this idea could resonate with audiences in a whole new way.
“The concept is about embracing technology too much and relying too much on it,” Wan says. “And what happens with technology runs amok. It’s a commentary on the world we live in and it feels relevant.”
Wan and Blum will produce the feature, which is aiming to begin shooting this fall. Michael Clear, of Wan’s Atomic Monster banner, will executive produce. Blumhouse’s Couper Samuelson will exec produce while Ryan Turek will oversee for the banner.
Watch for casting later this summer.
