Exclusive: M3GAN star Allison Williams teases the challenges of working with the soon-to-be iconic horror doll as a co-star in the new Blumhouse movie.
Allison Williams teases the challenges of working with the soon-to-be iconic doll M3GAN in the new Blumhouse Productions horror movie. M3GAN follows Gemma (Williams), a genius roboticist who has developed a new prototype, M3GAN, using artificial intelligence for the toy company she works for. The lifelike doll is programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Tragically, Gemma is given custody of her young niece, Cady, who is orphaned after her parents are killed in a car accident. Gemma, at a loss of what to do to raise Cady, uses her new M3GAN prototype, which has unexpectedly horrifying consequences as M3GAN becomes more self-aware and grows overprotective, willing to destroy anything and anyone that threatens Cady in any way.
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Williams hints at the challenges of filming with M3GAN. She explained how each department working together was instrumental to the success of the production. Williams compared M3GAN to a co-star, saying she was the most difficult so far, and referred to working with M3GAN as an uncanny acting experience.
Allison Williams: I really don’t want to ruin the magic for people of what M3GAN is. But it was a challenge, I will put it that way. Of all the costars I’ve ever had, all of whom have been lovely, she was by far the most temperamental and challenging.
But I will say that kind of effort literally took every department working together. And that’s the stuff that just brings a crew together and makes an experience really special from a meta standpoint. From an acting standpoint, if you’re looking for an uncanny experience, it’s very easy to perform against. It just rolls off the tongue.
What We Know About The Movie Magic Of M3GAN
M3GAN joins an impressive lineup of horror films centered on dolls, but unlike the more supernatural approach that has become popular, the creators approached this from the standpoint of technology and the dangers it can present. James Wan is considered the king of killer dolls with Saw and Annabelle, and writer Akela Cooper has talked about the influence of Child’s Play’s terror-inducing Chucky doll. Combining this ingrained fear of dolls with the growing reality of technological horror creates a new kind of monster in M3GAN.
M3GAN is the first time one of Wan’s famed possessed dolls will directly interact with the other characters, who comes to life through what could be seen as technological possession. The uncanny valley effect of M3GAN brings a new kind of horror because she appears so lifelike in her appearance and the fluidity of her movements while still seeming robotic in her mannerisms and programming. The horrors of technology, especially artificial intelligence, are not a new concept, with one of the most famous being James Cameron’s Terminator. But combining them with the classic possessed doll concept brings a new perspective, especially when combined with the idea that this doll is a protector for a young orphan.
M3GAN stands out in the stacked 2023 horror lineup as an original story, not an adaptation, reboot, or continuation. That creativity bleeds from the script into the actual production as well. Bringing M3GAN to life not only in the film but also on set proved to be a difficult task with a plethora of moving parts, including numerous VFX teams and on-set coordination with similarities to productions like The Mandalorian with Grogu, but on a much larger scale. The challenges of bringing this character to life through multiple teams and astounding performances from every actor are truly impressive feats.