'M3gan' writer says an 'unrated' and 'gorier' version of the film is 'on the books'
- "M3gan" writer Akela Cooper told the Los Angeles Times that the original script was "way gorier."
- Cooper said that producer James Wan and studio Universal asked to turn down the deaths and gore.
"M3gan" screenwriter Akela Cooper says that a "gorier" cut of the film may be released in the future.
The new comedy horror movie, which was released in theaters last week, follows a life-sized AI doll that begins to harm humans after being programmed to protect an 8-year-old orphan.
The movie has been rated PG-13, with most of the violence happening off-screen, but Cooper told the Los Angeles Times that her original script was a lot gorier.
"No shade to Universal, love them, and I understand that once the trailer went viral, teenagers got involved and you want them to be able to see it," Cooper said. "There should be an unrated version at some point. I heard it is on the books. But yes, it was way gorier."
The "Malignant" writer continued: "Her body count in the script was higher than in the movie. It wasn't a Gabriel [in 'Malignant']-scale massacre, but she did kill a bunch more people, including a couple of characters whom James was like, 'I like what you did with those people, but I want them to live.' I was merciless, but again, that is me. My humor is extremely dark."
While the concept of "M3gan" was described to Cooper as "Child's Play" meets "Chopping Mall," Cooper told the publication that she made efforts to differentiate the AI companion from the famous killer doll, Chucky.
"To avoid that obstacle, she needs to be the size of whatever child she is befriending," Cooper said. "Initially Cady was 6 or 7 and now she's 8 in the movie. [So M3gan] is taller and she's capable of walking around, capable of movement, which makes her different immediately from Annabelle and Chucky. You want that uncanniness, because that is disturbing to people."
"M3gan" has already become a viral sensation following the release of its trailer last year. This was partly due to the dance scene, which, according to production notes from the film reported on by Insider, was added by director Gerard Johnstone.
"There are such absurd moments that Gerard added, which gives it that fun, camp feel," Cooper said. "I didn't write M3gan dancing; I wrote her on a killing spree. When I saw it, I thought, 'This is so weird, but it works. That makes the death all the more uncomfortable.'"
"M3gan" is in theaters now.