‘M3GAN’ Director Reveals Why The Original Ending Got Axed

‘M3GAN’ is one of the hits that caused a stir in the industry with its dilemmas. Fans eagerly anticipated the debut of 2022’s sequel since the original film led their eyes wide open. However, recently, the director of M3GAN revealed the reasons why the original ending was cut and his hopes for a sequel.

Gerard Johnstone, the blockbuster’s director, had to say about the murderous AI doll at the center of his most recent work. He also stressed the importance of the planned sequel being flawless and error-free.

“M3GAN had to be perfect. We couldn’t have one hair out of place. It was actually a horrifically difficult shoot. It was so hard.” 

“I had a really great team around me, who were all having fun and reminding each other, ‘Hey, this movie is fun.’ That was a real joy. It was amazing when the first edit came in to be reminded, ‘Oh, this film was actually quite charming and fun.’” 

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With a monster $30 million opening weekend, it seems like all the effort was worthwhile. Johnstone explains why the movie’s initial ending was changed, why he hopes for a sequel, and how Kermit the Frog served as inspiration for M3GAN’s original song in an interview with Variety.

“We did thousands. The one we ended up with came really late in the game, and we went way out on a limb in some regards. She had to look iconic. I just kept saying, ‘Does it feel iconic enough?’ Also, she had to move, so there had to be a functionality to it, and a degree of class and sophistication. It had to be something that we hadn’t seen before. She couldn’t do the doll dress like ‘The Shining’ girls — we’ve seen that. “Annabelle” — we’ve  seen that. There’s a little bit of Barbie to her, I suppose, but like a 1950s Barbie. There were definitely a lot of iterations to her.”

“They had this battle with Bruce, and there was gonna be one more part of it where they thought they’d got away, and Bruce essentially…they leave the workshop where they had this big battle, and then they hear a ‘ka-chunk!’ and it’s Bruce’s head being thrown. And then, through the smoke of the doorway, M3GAN emerges just as a disembodied torso, and Bruce is holding her from behind and clomping along the corridor. It was great, and I was really in love with it. But we couldn’t do it for a number of practical reasons. We tried to shoot that version, and the physics didn’t work out. There were all these logistical things. So that’s why we end up doing the version we did. But I love the version we did, even though that was a cool idea. I love the version we got because it made Cady’s character so much more interesting. “

“How can I not be? Now that the film’s finished and that people that are embracing it. There are so many ideas that we had and facets of M3GAN’s personality that we wanted to explore. I totally think there’s there’s more to say. And I know that M3GAN would have more to say. I would love to do another one. Hopefully soon, while it’s still fresh in everyone’s minds. How can I not be? Now that the film’s finished and that people that are embracing it. There are so many ideas that we had and facets of M3GAN’s personality that we wanted to explore. I totally think there’s there’s more to say. And I know that M3GAN would have more to say. I would love to do another one. Hopefully soon, while it’s still fresh in everyone’s minds.”

Johnstone even appreciated having a hard-working team that was excessively supportive of one another. What do you think of the follow-up? Are you awaited for the sequel? Let us know in the comments. Stay tuned to Thirsty for more information.

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