How A Creepy Dance And Instant Gay In Stat Turned ‘M3GAN’ Into A Box Office Smash

Contents:

• HOW A CREEPY DANCE AND INSTANT GAY IN STAT TURNED ‘M3GAN’ INTO A BOX OFFICE SMASH
• WHY M3GAN IS STED TO BE A GAY IN
• M3GAN WRER TRIED AND FAILED TO EXPLA WHY THE KILLER DOLL IS SUCH A GAY IN
• M3GAN DOLL IS NOW AMERI’S LGBTQ+ IN BEE IT “RONAT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THE GAY MUNY”
• A DOLL THAT WEARS SUNGLASS WH ATTU? OH, ‘M3GAN’ IS A GAY MOVIE.
• $100M AND A SEQUEL THE WORKS: WHY HAS M3GAN BEE SUCH A H (AND A GAY IN)?
• M3GAN SCREENWRER AKELA COOPER DID NOT SET OUT TO INVENT A GAY IN THE MD BEHD EVERYONE’S FAVORE KILLER ROBOT DOLL CHATS WH VF ABOUT HER LIFELONG LOVE OF HORROR, BEG TYPE A, AND M3GAN’S UNNNY REMBLANCE TO A SORORY GIRL.BY CHRIS MURPHYJANUARY 12, 2023FACEBOOKTWTEREMAILSAVE STORYJON KOPALOFF/FILM MAGICSAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEFOR AKELA COOPER, THE SCREENWRER BEHD UNIVERSAL’S H HORROR-EDY M3GAN, HORROR HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FAY AFFAIR. “I WAS STEEPED SCIENCE FICTN BEE MY PARENTS WERE REALLY TO SCI-FI, PECIALLY MY DAD,” SHE TELLS VANY FAIR OVER ZOOM. “HORROR WAS MY OLR SIBLGS’ THG. I WOULD END UP, PROBABLY APPROPRIATELY, WATCHG A LOT OF HORROR BEE OF THEM. I JT ME TO LOVE THE THRILL OF BEG SRED, AND JT GREW AN APPRECIATN FOR MONSTERS AND MONSTER SIGN. SO ’S ALWAYS BEEN WH ME.” HER LOVE OF THE GENRE IS CLEAR AS SHE ZOOMS OM HER HOME OFFICE LOS ANGEL, WHICH IS VERED HORROR MOVIE POSTERS AND PARAPHERNALIA. WHILE M3GAN HAS EARNED RAV FOR S SEAMLS MIX OF HORROR AND HUMOR, EDY HAS NEVER BEEN A PARTICULAR PASSN FOR COOPER. “I DON’T EVER REALLY WRE TO TONE. I’M NOT LIKE, THIS IS MPY NOW, AND NOW THIS HAS TO TRANSN TO SERNS,” COOPER SAYS. “I JT WRE THE SCEN AS I SEE THEM MY HEAD. IT ALL JT STARTS WH THE CHARACTERS. WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERS DOG THE SCEN? WHAT ARE THEY FEELG? WHAT IS M3GAN DOG? WHAT IS SHE FEELG? HOW IS SHE RPONDG TO ALL OF THIS?”COOPER CHATS WH VANY FAIR ABOUT ACCINTALLY VENTG A QUEER IN, THE LLABORATIVE NATURE OF FILMMAKG, AND HER FAVORE HORROR VILLA OF ALL TIME.VANY FAIR: WHAT HORROR MEDIA WERE YOU OBSSED WH WHEN YOU WERE A KID?AKELA COOPER: I ME TO STEPHEN KG FAIRLY EARLY ON. I SAW CHRISTE AS A MIDDAY MOVIE A BUNCH. IT WOULD JT AIR AND I WOULD TCH AT VAR TIM. THEN ONE TIME, I UGHT AT THE BEGNG. I SAW THE CREDS, AND THAT WAS BASED ON A NOVEL BY STEPHEN KG. I'M LIKE, "THIS IS A BOOK? I LOVE READG BOOKS. LET ME SEEK OUT THIS BOOK." CHRISTE WAS THE FIRST STEPHEN KG NOVEL I EVER READ, AND THEN JT WENT OM THERE, BEE I THK HE'S AN AWOME THOR.ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORE HORROR MOVI IS PUMPKHEAD, DIRECTED BY STAN WSTON. I ALSO LOVE JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THG. THE ORIGAL ALIEN, WHICH IS MORE SCI-FI HORROR THAN THE SEQUEL, EVEN THOUGH THE SEQUEL WAS MY FAVORE MOVIE OF ALL TIME. PREDATOR, CARRIE, CHILD'S PLAY. NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET IS MY FAVORE OF THE BIG FOUR. I'M A FREDDY [KRGER] GIRL.YOU'RE A FREDDY GIRL, OKAY.YEAH, THEN 'S JASON [VOORHE], AND THEN 'S MICHAEL [MYERS]. THEN PROBABLY 'S A TOSS UP BETWEEN LEATHERFACE AND CHUCKY. PROBABLY MORE SO CHUCKY. IF I HAD TO PUT ONE [MOVIE] ON, I'D PUT CHILD'S PLAY ON BEFORE I PUT ON TEXAS CHASAW MASSACRE.WHY IS FREDDY YOUR FAVORE?WELL, FREDDY WAS THE FIRST MONSTER WH A PERSONALY. ROBERT ENGLUND IS SO GREAT THAT ROLE, AND AS THE MOVI WENT ON, HE BEME FUNNIER. IT BEME ONE OF THOSE THGS WHERE 'S LIKE, "Y. I WANT TO SEE HIM KILL PEOPLE." BUT YEAH, IS THE STYLE THAT HE BRGS AND THAT INIC LOOK.SPEAKG OF GREAT PERFORMANC, ALLISON WILLIAMS IS PERFECTLY ST AS GEMMA  M3GAN. HOW DID YOU NCEIVE OF THE TIGHTLY WOUND, TYPE A PROTAGONIST? BEE I’M A TYPE-A PERSONALY [LGHS]. IT ALL ME OM, "OH MY GOD. WHAT WOULD I HAVE TO DO IF I HAD TO TAKE RE OF A SMALL CHILD?" THEN JT WORKG THOSE ASPECTS, GETTG NOT OM THE GUYS AT ATOMIC MONSTER AND BLUMHOE WHO DO HAVE KIDS. I DO NOT HAVE KIDS. THEY'RE BRGG THEIR PARENTAL EXPERIENCE TO . IT'S LIKE, "WELL, WHAT IF WAS THIS?" AND JT WEAVG ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER. I WAS NEVER PICTURG ALLISON WILLIAMS.WOW, THAT’S CRAZY BEE FEELS AS IF THE PART WAS WRTEN FOR HER. WERE YOU PICTURG ANY ACTRS SPECIFILLY?NOT NECSARILY. IT REALLY WAS ABOUT PERSONALY ON THE PAGE. LUCKILY, ALLISON WAS THE RIGHT F FOR ALL OF THAT. IT WAS VERY FORTUO THAT WE FOUND EACH OTHER AND SHE WAS ST.YOU’VE MENTNED THE POTENTIAL FOR AN UNRATED, “GORIER” DIRECTOR’S CUT OF M3GAN. CAN YOU TELL ME A LTLE MORE ABOUT THAT? WELL, TO CLARIFY, [DRAFTS OF] MY SCRIPT WERE DARKER TO THE POT WHERE JAM WAN HAD TO GIVE ME THE NOTICE, "HEY. YOU'VE KILLED OFF TOO MANY CHARACTERS." I REMEMBER ONE OF THE EMPLOYE AT FUNKY WAS, I THK, BTALLY MURRED A STAIRWELL. THE SCRIPT WAS WAY MORE GOME. EVEN WHAT WE FILMED, THERE WAS MORE BLOOD AND A LTLE B MORE GORE. SO Y, IF THERE EVER IS AN UNRATED VERSN, WHICH I HOPE THERE IS—AS I'VE SAID, I KNOW THEY'RE TALKS TO DO —HOPEFULLY THEY WILL DO . BUT YEAH, LIKE RONNY CHIENG'S CHARACTER'S ATH, THAT WAS WAY BLOODIER THE R-RATED VERSN. HOPEFULLY, PEOPLE WILL GET TO SEE THAT, BEE I KD OF MISS THAT.MOST POPULARTHE 25 BT SHOWS ON NETFLIX TO WATCH RIGHT NOWBY TARA ARIANOWELE TO SALTBURN’S TWISTED GOTHIC TALEBY REBEC FORDWH MATRO, LEONARD BERNSTE’S LEGACY AND LOV FALLY H THE BIG SCREENBY REBEC FORDAS THE SCREENWRER, WERE YOU ON SET FOR ANY OF THE FILMG? HOW VOLVED WERE YOU THE FAL PRODUCT? CRED TO [M3GAN DIRECTOR] GERARD JOHNSTONE. HE GAVE ME A LL WHEN HE WAS BROUGHT ON. HE WAS LIKE, "I LOVE THE SCRIPT." HE DID HIS PASS FOR WHAT HE WANTED TO SEE. THEN DUE TO COVID PRODUCTN CHANGE, WENT OM CANADA TO NEW ZEALAND. SO UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE PANMIC, I DIDN'T GET TO GO TO SET AND HANG OUT.BUT I WAS TOUCH WH THE PRODUCER WHO WAS ON SET DURG FILMG. WHAT WAS GREAT WAS THAT THEY DIDN'T NEED ME. THEY HAD EVERYTHG THEY NEED, AND TURNED OUT GREAT.THE M3GAN TRAILER DROPS, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY, SHE'S A VIRAL SENSATN. ALL THE GAYS LOVE HER. WHAT'S NNG THROUGH YOUR HEAD? ARE YOU LIKE, "OH MY GOD. THIS IS SO GREAT"? OR "OH MY GOD.  WILL WE EVER LIVE UP TO THIS HYPE?"A LTLE B OF BOTH. I KD OF HAD A HEADS UP AT COMIC-CON. I WAS ON A PANEL WH A BUNCH OF OTHER WONRFUL HORROR WRERS AND DIRECTORS. ONE OF THEM WAS SAM WEMAN WHO'D GOTTEN TO SEE AN EARLY SCREENG.HE PULLED ME ASI, AND HE WAS LIKE, "M3GAN IS GOG TO BE SUCH A GAY IN." I WAS LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKG ABOUT?" SADLY, THERE'S NO REAL ROMANCE THE MOVIE, BUT I'M LIKE, "THERE'S NO OVERTLY GAY CHARACTER. WHAT ARE YOU TALKG ABOUT?" HE'S LIKE, "OH NO. IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT. IT'S ABOUT M3GAN. SHE IS GOG TO BEE A GAY IN." I WAS LIKE, "OKAY. I'M GOG TO TAKE YOUR WORD FOR , SAM." THEN THE TRAILER ME OUT, AND THE MEM STARTED, AND Y, THE GAY MUNY JT LATCHED ONTO . I WAS TEXTG SAM. I WAS LIKE, "HOLY SH. YOU WERE RIGHT. THIS IS AMAZG."DID YOU TEND TO WRE A GAY IN?NO. MY SCRIPTN OF HER WAS REALLY SPARSE. MY SCRIPTN OF M3GAN WAS LIKE ... I THK SHE WAS WEARG A SCHOOL OUTF, LIKE A LTLE CHILD'S SCHOOL UNIFORM. SHE WAS FOUR FEET, THE HEIGHT OF AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD. THAT WAS .THEN GERARD ME , AND HE HAD AN IA OF WHAT HE WANTED HER TO LOOK LIKE. THEY PUT THE SIGN TOGETHER WH THE OUTF. THEN I REMEMBER THE PRODUCER SHOWED ME A PHOTO ON HIS PHONE. I'M LIKE, "HOLY SH. SHE LOOKS LIKE A RANGED SORORY GIRL." IMMEDIATELY, 'S DISTURBG. SHE'S GOT THAT UNNNY FEELG. IT'S LIKE SHE'S GOG TO STAB YOU AFTER THIS AT PARTY.ANOTHER THG THAT MAK M3GAN AN IN IS HER SGG AND DANCG.  THE DIENCE WENT KNOWG THAT SHE WAS GOG TO DANCE, BUT THE SGG WAS A PLETE SURPRISE.THAT WAS A BETIFUL SURPRISE TO ME. I DID NOT WRE HER SGG LULLABI. I WROTE HER AS FORTG CADY. THEN GERARD SE THAT AND 'S LIKE, "WELL, WHAT N SHE DO?"AMIE DONALD WAS ST [AS M3GAN’S BODY], AND AMIE N DANCE, AND JENNA DAVIS, WHO DO THE VOICE OF M3GAN, N SG. SO 'S LIKE LIGHT BULBS ARE GOG OFF FOR PEOPLE. [IN] ONE OF MY EARLY DRAFTS, THE MANDATE WAS—BEE WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW WE WERE GOG TO BUILD M3GAN—I ULDN'T HAVE HER MOVG ALL THAT MUCH. IT WASN'T UNTIL AMIE DONALD ME , 'S LIKE, "OKAY. SHE N MOVE NOW. GREAT." THERE WAS NEVER ANY DANCG THE SCRIPTS. THAT WAS A PRODUCTN LL. AFTER AMIE HAD BEEN ST GERARD HAD THIS FEVER DREAM AND WAS LIKE, "WHAT IF SHE'S DANCG?" IT'S LIKE, "SURE."NOW THAT M3GAN HAS BEEN A CRIL SUCCS AND A MERCIAL SUCCS ARE YOU WORRIED OF PEOPLE POTENTIALLY TRYG TO PY THE STYLE AND TONE THAT YOU'VE CREATED?THE FLOODGAT ARE OPEN. WE N HAVE MORE M3GANS. I AM HAPPY THAT I'VE HAD A HAND OPENG THE DOOR THAT MORE MOVI LIKE THIS, PECIALLY IF THEY'RE ORIGAL, N GET MA. I ME UP WH ... WAS PISSO WHO SAID, "GOOD ARTISTS BORROW. GREAT ARTISTS STEAL"?THERE'S SO MANY GREAT HORROR MOVIE MOMENTS WHERE I WAS LIKE, "I'M GOG TO E THAT SOMEDAY. YEAH." IF M3GAN SPIR SOME OTHER WRER OUT THERE TO CREATE A SGG, DANCG, TERROR DOLL, MORE POWER TO THEM.MORE GREAT STORI FROM VANY FAIRHOW FOUR BILLNAIRE TECHNO-OLIGARCHS ARE CREATG AN ALTERNATE REALYEXCLIVE NEW DETAILS ABOUT MEGHAN MARKLE’S WEDDG DRSWHY THE TAN SUBMERSIBLE DISASTER WAS YEARS THE MAKGHERE’S WHAT WE NEED SEASON 3 OF AND JT LIKE THAT…THE BRIEF DEATH (AND SHORT REBIRTH) OF LIL TAYINSI ANDREW STT AND PL ML’S METAPHYSIL LOVE STORYFROM THE ARCHIVE: A FATHER’S ACUNT OF THE TRIAL OF HIS DGHTER’S KILLEREND-OF-SUMMER SALE! TAKE 25% OFF AT THE VF SHOPCHRIS MURPHY

HOW A CREEPY DANCE AND INSTANT GAY IN STAT TURNED ‘M3GAN’ INTO A BOX OFFICE SMASH

"I actually asked one of my iends who is a gay man about that and he was sayg this set-up is actually found fay, where this ltle girl has lost her fay, and she has to go live wh her nt. That ronat for a lot of people the gay muny, the ia of found fay. ” Joe Valle, a New York Universy profsor whose rearch has explored the lks between queerns and horror movi, told Vox he knew M3GAN would bee an stant gay in, addg queer men may be reclaimg what has long been societally prohibed, like femy.

Thanks to s viral trailer, M3GAN has driven signifint tert among termally onle gay folks for s mpy tone and absurd premise. She ially begs the film as a benevolent pann to Cady (Vlet McGraw), the orphaned niece of M3GAN’s programmer Gemma (Allison Williams, another in among ter gays).

WHY M3GAN IS STED TO BE A GAY IN

In a recent terview wh SFX Magaze, screenwrer Akela Cooper, who also wrote the beloved, batsh 2021 horror flick Malignant, explaed that M3GAN’s prence Cady’s life aligns wh a theme of found fay that gay dienc n intify wh. Gay people really jt love fundamentally stupid, prepostero media! To quote that one tweet om edian Adam Friedland, when M3GAN do some socpathic sh, gay people will rpond wh “Hontly, work.

M3GAN WRER TRIED AND FAILED TO EXPLA WHY THE KILLER DOLL IS SUCH A GAY IN

Some have gone so far as to refute Cooper’s ntentn by mentng that M3GAN is a gay in bee she’s mean, pretty, and able to dance, she sgs an earnt rendn of “Tanium” by Sia, she’s a killer, and she’s a eak girl who flips and wears a Cele overat.

M3GAN DOLL IS NOW AMERI’S LGBTQ+ IN BEE IT “RONAT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THE GAY MUNY”

Perhaps most importantly, she’s “mother, ” a playful label gay people will assign to any woman pop culture who embodi rilience, strength, ferocy, and bety. M3GAN’s equally nurturg and lculatg nature is one of the few characteristics that gay people have long fawned over and gravated toward when to cematic pictns of powerful women. Blumhoe’s effective marketg for M3GAN particular played a huge role persuadg and securg the attentn of a young gay dience.

On her Twter acunt, she (or whoever the gay social media manager is who’s nng ) has published snarky posts rewordg tweets that are cril of the film and dissg Chucky, another cherished killer doll wh a strong LGBTQ+ followg. Somehow, M3GAN tapped to the queer market a way that other recent mastream films terg to gay dienc have stggled to achieve. For stance, last year’s Billy Eichner rom- Bros heavily touted that was the “first gay rom- ma by a major stud, ” spe the fact that Eichner admted was ma wh straight dienc md.

Even The Real Friends of WeHo, a new MTV realy seri that’s really jt Real Hoewiv but wh rich gay men, sparked risive reactns when s trailer dropped last week. If anythg, M3GAN has illumated a growg dispary between what ntemporary gay dienc want to see and what Hollywood thks ntemporary gay dienc want to see.

A DOLL THAT WEARS SUNGLASS WH ATTU? OH, ‘M3GAN’ IS A GAY MOVIE.

M3GAN didn’t jt bee a gay in bee of her stylish Amerin Girl Doll fashn, the fact that she plays Martika’s “Toy Soldiers” on the piano, or the way she whirls and twirls before reigng hell on her victims.

$100M AND A SEQUEL THE WORKS: WHY HAS M3GAN BEE SUCH A H (AND A GAY IN)?

For a movie that highlights AI’s creepy abily to tect and anticipate our needs and behavrs, ’s ironic the bt way that M3GAN’s succs among the gay muny is somethg no one uld’ve expected. And while glamoro women who dance and are pable of homici appeal directly to my homosexual tast (I love Chigo! I n’t fully expla myself, but as a flagrantly homosexual man, I feel like this movie has triggered some kd of synaps gay bras.

Like we [gay people] mt see this movie wh this murr doll. I worry bee I’m this homosexual bubble that I might be imagg thgs, and I jt want to know if you’re seeg the same thg. ” You know, was very clear to me that was gog to be sort of stant gay inography.

M3GAN SCREENWRER AKELA COOPER DID NOT SET OUT TO INVENT A GAY IN THE MD BEHD EVERYONE’S FAVORE KILLER ROBOT DOLL CHATS WH VF ABOUT HER LIFELONG LOVE OF HORROR, BEG TYPE A, AND M3GAN’S UNNNY REMBLANCE TO A SORORY GIRL.BY CHRIS MURPHYJANUARY 12, 2023FACEBOOKTWTEREMAILSAVE STORYJON KOPALOFF/FILM MAGICSAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEFOR AKELA COOPER, THE SCREENWRER BEHD UNIVERSAL’S H HORROR-EDY M3GAN, HORROR HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FAY AFFAIR. “I WAS STEEPED SCIENCE FICTN BEE MY PARENTS WERE REALLY TO SCI-FI, PECIALLY MY DAD,” SHE TELLS VANY FAIR OVER ZOOM. “HORROR WAS MY OLR SIBLGS’ THG. I WOULD END UP, PROBABLY APPROPRIATELY, WATCHG A LOT OF HORROR BEE OF THEM. I JT ME TO LOVE THE THRILL OF BEG SRED, AND JT GREW AN APPRECIATN FOR MONSTERS AND MONSTER SIGN. SO ’S ALWAYS BEEN WH ME.” HER LOVE OF THE GENRE IS CLEAR AS SHE ZOOMS OM HER HOME OFFICE LOS ANGEL, WHICH IS VERED HORROR MOVIE POSTERS AND PARAPHERNALIA. WHILE M3GAN HAS EARNED RAV FOR S SEAMLS MIX OF HORROR AND HUMOR, EDY HAS NEVER BEEN A PARTICULAR PASSN FOR COOPER. “I DON’T EVER REALLY WRE TO TONE. I’M NOT LIKE, THIS IS MPY NOW, AND NOW THIS HAS TO TRANSN TO SERNS,” COOPER SAYS. “I JT WRE THE SCEN AS I SEE THEM MY HEAD. IT ALL JT STARTS WH THE CHARACTERS. WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERS DOG THE SCEN? WHAT ARE THEY FEELG? WHAT IS M3GAN DOG? WHAT IS SHE FEELG? HOW IS SHE RPONDG TO ALL OF THIS?”COOPER CHATS WH VANY FAIR ABOUT ACCINTALLY VENTG A QUEER IN, THE LLABORATIVE NATURE OF FILMMAKG, AND HER FAVORE HORROR VILLA OF ALL TIME.VANY FAIR: WHAT HORROR MEDIA WERE YOU OBSSED WH WHEN YOU WERE A KID?AKELA COOPER: I ME TO STEPHEN KG FAIRLY EARLY ON. I SAW CHRISTE AS A MIDDAY MOVIE A BUNCH. IT WOULD JT AIR AND I WOULD TCH AT VAR TIM. THEN ONE TIME, I UGHT AT THE BEGNG. I SAW THE CREDS, AND THAT WAS BASED ON A NOVEL BY STEPHEN KG. I'M LIKE, "THIS IS A BOOK? I LOVE READG BOOKS. LET ME SEEK OUT THIS BOOK." CHRISTE WAS THE FIRST STEPHEN KG NOVEL I EVER READ, AND THEN JT WENT OM THERE, BEE I THK HE'S AN AWOME THOR.ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORE HORROR MOVI IS PUMPKHEAD, DIRECTED BY STAN WSTON. I ALSO LOVE JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THG. THE ORIGAL ALIEN, WHICH IS MORE SCI-FI HORROR THAN THE SEQUEL, EVEN THOUGH THE SEQUEL WAS MY FAVORE MOVIE OF ALL TIME. PREDATOR, CARRIE, CHILD'S PLAY. NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET IS MY FAVORE OF THE BIG FOUR. I'M A FREDDY [KRGER] GIRL.YOU'RE A FREDDY GIRL, OKAY.YEAH, THEN 'S JASON [VOORHE], AND THEN 'S MICHAEL [MYERS]. THEN PROBABLY 'S A TOSS UP BETWEEN LEATHERFACE AND CHUCKY. PROBABLY MORE SO CHUCKY. IF I HAD TO PUT ONE [MOVIE] ON, I'D PUT CHILD'S PLAY ON BEFORE I PUT ON TEXAS CHASAW MASSACRE.WHY IS FREDDY YOUR FAVORE?WELL, FREDDY WAS THE FIRST MONSTER WH A PERSONALY. ROBERT ENGLUND IS SO GREAT THAT ROLE, AND AS THE MOVI WENT ON, HE BEME FUNNIER. IT BEME ONE OF THOSE THGS WHERE 'S LIKE, "Y. I WANT TO SEE HIM KILL PEOPLE." BUT YEAH, IS THE STYLE THAT HE BRGS AND THAT INIC LOOK.SPEAKG OF GREAT PERFORMANC, ALLISON WILLIAMS IS PERFECTLY ST AS GEMMA  M3GAN. HOW DID YOU NCEIVE OF THE TIGHTLY WOUND, TYPE A PROTAGONIST? BEE I’M A TYPE-A PERSONALY [LGHS]. IT ALL ME OM, "OH MY GOD. WHAT WOULD I HAVE TO DO IF I HAD TO TAKE RE OF A SMALL CHILD?" THEN JT WORKG THOSE ASPECTS, GETTG NOT OM THE GUYS AT ATOMIC MONSTER AND BLUMHOE WHO DO HAVE KIDS. I DO NOT HAVE KIDS. THEY'RE BRGG THEIR PARENTAL EXPERIENCE TO . IT'S LIKE, "WELL, WHAT IF WAS THIS?" AND JT WEAVG ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER. I WAS NEVER PICTURG ALLISON WILLIAMS.WOW, THAT’S CRAZY BEE FEELS AS IF THE PART WAS WRTEN FOR HER. WERE YOU PICTURG ANY ACTRS SPECIFILLY?NOT NECSARILY. IT REALLY WAS ABOUT PERSONALY ON THE PAGE. LUCKILY, ALLISON WAS THE RIGHT F FOR ALL OF THAT. IT WAS VERY FORTUO THAT WE FOUND EACH OTHER AND SHE WAS ST.YOU’VE MENTNED THE POTENTIAL FOR AN UNRATED, “GORIER” DIRECTOR’S CUT OF M3GAN. CAN YOU TELL ME A LTLE MORE ABOUT THAT? WELL, TO CLARIFY, [DRAFTS OF] MY SCRIPT WERE DARKER TO THE POT WHERE JAM WAN HAD TO GIVE ME THE NOTICE, "HEY. YOU'VE KILLED OFF TOO MANY CHARACTERS." I REMEMBER ONE OF THE EMPLOYE AT FUNKY WAS, I THK, BTALLY MURRED A STAIRWELL. THE SCRIPT WAS WAY MORE GOME. EVEN WHAT WE FILMED, THERE WAS MORE BLOOD AND A LTLE B MORE GORE. SO Y, IF THERE EVER IS AN UNRATED VERSN, WHICH I HOPE THERE IS—AS I'VE SAID, I KNOW THEY'RE TALKS TO DO —HOPEFULLY THEY WILL DO . BUT YEAH, LIKE RONNY CHIENG'S CHARACTER'S ATH, THAT WAS WAY BLOODIER THE R-RATED VERSN. HOPEFULLY, PEOPLE WILL GET TO SEE THAT, BEE I KD OF MISS THAT.MOST POPULARTHE 25 BT SHOWS ON NETFLIX TO WATCH RIGHT NOWBY TARA ARIANOWELE TO SALTBURN’S TWISTED GOTHIC TALEBY REBEC FORDWH MATRO, LEONARD BERNSTE’S LEGACY AND LOV FALLY H THE BIG SCREENBY REBEC FORDAS THE SCREENWRER, WERE YOU ON SET FOR ANY OF THE FILMG? HOW VOLVED WERE YOU THE FAL PRODUCT? CRED TO [M3GAN DIRECTOR] GERARD JOHNSTONE. HE GAVE ME A LL WHEN HE WAS BROUGHT ON. HE WAS LIKE, "I LOVE THE SCRIPT." HE DID HIS PASS FOR WHAT HE WANTED TO SEE. THEN DUE TO COVID PRODUCTN CHANGE, WENT OM CANADA TO NEW ZEALAND. SO UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE PANMIC, I DIDN'T GET TO GO TO SET AND HANG OUT.BUT I WAS TOUCH WH THE PRODUCER WHO WAS ON SET DURG FILMG. WHAT WAS GREAT WAS THAT THEY DIDN'T NEED ME. THEY HAD EVERYTHG THEY NEED, AND TURNED OUT GREAT.THE M3GAN TRAILER DROPS, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY, SHE'S A VIRAL SENSATN. ALL THE GAYS LOVE HER. WHAT'S NNG THROUGH YOUR HEAD? ARE YOU LIKE, "OH MY GOD. THIS IS SO GREAT"? OR "OH MY GOD.  WILL WE EVER LIVE UP TO THIS HYPE?"A LTLE B OF BOTH. I KD OF HAD A HEADS UP AT COMIC-CON. I WAS ON A PANEL WH A BUNCH OF OTHER WONRFUL HORROR WRERS AND DIRECTORS. ONE OF THEM WAS SAM WEMAN WHO'D GOTTEN TO SEE AN EARLY SCREENG.HE PULLED ME ASI, AND HE WAS LIKE, "M3GAN IS GOG TO BE SUCH A GAY IN." I WAS LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKG ABOUT?" SADLY, THERE'S NO REAL ROMANCE THE MOVIE, BUT I'M LIKE, "THERE'S NO OVERTLY GAY CHARACTER. WHAT ARE YOU TALKG ABOUT?" HE'S LIKE, "OH NO. IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT. IT'S ABOUT M3GAN. SHE IS GOG TO BEE A GAY IN." I WAS LIKE, "OKAY. I'M GOG TO TAKE YOUR WORD FOR , SAM." THEN THE TRAILER ME OUT, AND THE MEM STARTED, AND Y, THE GAY MUNY JT LATCHED ONTO . I WAS TEXTG SAM. I WAS LIKE, "HOLY SH. YOU WERE RIGHT. THIS IS AMAZG."DID YOU TEND TO WRE A GAY IN?NO. MY SCRIPTN OF HER WAS REALLY SPARSE. MY SCRIPTN OF M3GAN WAS LIKE ... I THK SHE WAS WEARG A SCHOOL OUTF, LIKE A LTLE CHILD'S SCHOOL UNIFORM. SHE WAS FOUR FEET, THE HEIGHT OF AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD. THAT WAS .THEN GERARD ME , AND HE HAD AN IA OF WHAT HE WANTED HER TO LOOK LIKE. THEY PUT THE SIGN TOGETHER WH THE OUTF. THEN I REMEMBER THE PRODUCER SHOWED ME A PHOTO ON HIS PHONE. I'M LIKE, "HOLY SH. SHE LOOKS LIKE A RANGED SORORY GIRL." IMMEDIATELY, 'S DISTURBG. SHE'S GOT THAT UNNNY FEELG. IT'S LIKE SHE'S GOG TO STAB YOU AFTER THIS AT PARTY.ANOTHER THG THAT MAK M3GAN AN IN IS HER SGG AND DANCG.  THE DIENCE WENT KNOWG THAT SHE WAS GOG TO DANCE, BUT THE SGG WAS A PLETE SURPRISE.THAT WAS A BETIFUL SURPRISE TO ME. I DID NOT WRE HER SGG LULLABI. I WROTE HER AS FORTG CADY. THEN GERARD SE THAT AND 'S LIKE, "WELL, WHAT N SHE DO?"AMIE DONALD WAS ST [AS M3GAN’S BODY], AND AMIE N DANCE, AND JENNA DAVIS, WHO DO THE VOICE OF M3GAN, N SG. SO 'S LIKE LIGHT BULBS ARE GOG OFF FOR PEOPLE. [IN] ONE OF MY EARLY DRAFTS, THE MANDATE WAS—BEE WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW WE WERE GOG TO BUILD M3GAN—I ULDN'T HAVE HER MOVG ALL THAT MUCH. IT WASN'T UNTIL AMIE DONALD ME , 'S LIKE, "OKAY. SHE N MOVE NOW. GREAT." THERE WAS NEVER ANY DANCG THE SCRIPTS. THAT WAS A PRODUCTN LL. AFTER AMIE HAD BEEN ST GERARD HAD THIS FEVER DREAM AND WAS LIKE, "WHAT IF SHE'S DANCG?" IT'S LIKE, "SURE."NOW THAT M3GAN HAS BEEN A CRIL SUCCS AND A MERCIAL SUCCS ARE YOU WORRIED OF PEOPLE POTENTIALLY TRYG TO PY THE STYLE AND TONE THAT YOU'VE CREATED?THE FLOODGAT ARE OPEN. WE N HAVE MORE M3GANS. I AM HAPPY THAT I'VE HAD A HAND OPENG THE DOOR THAT MORE MOVI LIKE THIS, PECIALLY IF THEY'RE ORIGAL, N GET MA. I ME UP WH ... WAS PISSO WHO SAID, "GOOD ARTISTS BORROW. GREAT ARTISTS STEAL"?THERE'S SO MANY GREAT HORROR MOVIE MOMENTS WHERE I WAS LIKE, "I'M GOG TO E THAT SOMEDAY. YEAH." IF M3GAN SPIR SOME OTHER WRER OUT THERE TO CREATE A SGG, DANCG, TERROR DOLL, MORE POWER TO THEM.MORE GREAT STORI FROM VANY FAIRHOW FOUR BILLNAIRE TECHNO-OLIGARCHS ARE CREATG AN ALTERNATE REALYEXCLIVE NEW DETAILS ABOUT MEGHAN MARKLE’S WEDDG DRSWHY THE TAN SUBMERSIBLE DISASTER WAS YEARS THE MAKGHERE’S WHAT WE NEED SEASON 3 OF AND JT LIKE THAT…THE BRIEF DEATH (AND SHORT REBIRTH) OF LIL TAYINSI ANDREW STT AND PL ML’S METAPHYSIL LOVE STORYFROM THE ARCHIVE: A FATHER’S ACUNT OF THE TRIAL OF HIS DGHTER’S KILLEREND-OF-SUMMER SALE! TAKE 25% OFF AT THE VF SHOPCHRIS MURPHY

It feels very much like we’re assigng ntext and meang to the visual before we even know what is, and that is what gay and queer men of our generatn have always done — that gayns and queerns are sort of an act of reclaimg and rentextualizg. Is that part of the reason you thk M3gan has ronated wh queer people, and gay men particular?

So mak sense that the gay or queer men’s sensibily is gravatg toward this betiful Amanda Seyied-like killer doll. M3gan is betiful and evil, so there’s a subversn that some gay men might be rpondg to when they see somethg like that. And then of urse the first movie ’s the two bumblg, maybe-gay-for-each-other guys who are the killers, right?