Universal sent its M3GAN spinoff Soulm8te straight to digital platforms on Saturday, August 1, after pulling the film from its theatrical release calendar and briefly shopping it to other distributors. The Hollywood Reporter published its review of the film on August 3, confirming the quiet end of a journey that once pointed to a January theatrical run.

The decision traces back to the commercial failure of M3GAN 2.0, the 2025 sequel to the original killer-doll hit, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Universal removed Soulm8te from its release slate on December 16, 2025, and began offering it to rival distributors before ultimately choosing a digital debut. The Hollywood Reporter

Soulm8te is directed by Kate Dolan, who co-wrote the screenplay with Rafael Jordan. It is an offshoot of the M3GAN-verse — the franchise built around the murderous AI doll — though it shifts the premise in a new direction. Lily Sullivan, who played the final girl in Evil Dead Rise, stars as Sara, a prototype android companion designed for emotional support, domestic chores, and sex. The plot follows a grieving man, played by David Rysdahl, who acquires Sara to cope with the death of his wife. Things, as the trailer promised, go too far.

The cast also includes Claudia Doumit, Arty Froushan, Elijah Cook, Emma Ramos, Maria Hof, Oliver Cooper, and Noor Dillan-Knight. The film is rated R and runs a tight 1 hour 39 minutes. The Hollywood Reporter

The Hollywood Reporter described the film as a James Wan–Jason Blum production with an erotic-thriller style reminiscent of 1980s and 1990s entries in the genre, updated for the AI era. The review called it a satirical, unhinged movie that explores desire, obsession, autonomy, and control — and one that knows how ridiculous it is. The Hollywood Reporter

For the M3GAN-verse, the path from a January theatrical slot to a Saturday digital drop is a telling one. The original M3GAN became a surprise box-office hit in early 2023, earning more than $180 million worldwide on a $12 million budget. M3GAN 2.0 failed to repeat that performance, and the franchise's expansion plans contracted accordingly. Soulm8te is the first sign of where the property goes from here — smaller, digital-first, but still alive.