In a surprising turn of events, Jason Blum has candidly addressed the dismal performance of M3GAN 2.0 at the box office. Released this past weekend by Blumhouse and Universal Pictures, the film has only managed to rake in around $18 million worldwide, a stark contrast to its predecessor, which grossed an impressive $181.8 million.

What Went Wrong with M3GAN 2.0?

In a recent episode of The Town with Matt Belloni podcast, Jason Blum opened up about the missteps that led to the sequel's underwhelming reception. He acknowledged the studio's overconfidence, saying, "We all thought M3GAN was like Superman. We could do anything to her. We could change genres, release her in the summer, even alter her character from a villain to a hero. We overestimated how invested audiences were in her story."

A Risky Genre Shift: What Were They Thinking?

The original M3GAN was marketed as a horror flick, but the sequel took a radical turn by leaning into the action thriller genre. Blum expressed regret over this shift, noting, "Every time you do a sequel, it's a precarious balancing act. If you mirror the original too closely, fans complain that you recycled ideas. If you stray too far, they wonder why it's even a sequel. It’s a tightrope walk every filmmaker has to navigate.”

Summer Release: A Mistake in Timing?

Blum also questioned the release timing of M3GAN 2.0, admitting that launching it in the summer wasn't the best choice for their strategy. He emphasized the importance of time in the creative process, stating, "Director Gerard Johnstone works best when given ample time to hone his vision. With the first M3GAN, we had all the time we needed, but with this sequel, we rushed it out too quickly. We got overexcited about the character's potential, and clearly, it backfired."

Will M3GAN 2.0 find redemption, or is this a cautionary tale about franchise fatigue and creative miscalculation? Only time will tell, but Jason Blum's insights shed light on the complex dynamics of film-making and audience expectations.