We're only a few weeks into the new year, and Hollywood already has a new 'it' girl - well, doll. M3GAN is the star of the newest horror-comedy from Blumhouse Productions, and she has captured the world's attention.
She's been seen performing her viral dance moves everywhere from the Empire State Building to an NFL game.
Plano-born actress Jenna Davis voices M3GAN in the film. She joined KRLD's What to Watch team to talk about how she brought the AI-powered robot doll to life.
Her role as M3GAN is a departure from her previous roles in kid-friendly shows like 'Raven's Home.'
"This is my first time doing a horror film ... and it has been so fun to play her. She's a girl boss, she's a villain. And it's different than anything I've ever done before," Davis said.
Davis snagged the role thanks to her audition, which coincidentally was filmed in a place you would commonly find monsters lurking in horror movies.
"So I auditioned for the role in my closet, actually," she said. "All I really knew that I was auditioning for was, that I was an AI. So it was really, really quite bizarre to see how it has, you know, evolved to what it has become."
"It's a really a dream come true. And it's more than I could ever ask for."
While her uncanny features and robotic glare are quite unnerving, a great part of M3GAN's allure is her creepy yet sassy voice.
"When you hear and you think of an AI, you think, monotone robot ... when it came to M3GAN, I wanted to give her personality to allow me to stand out," David said.
"I decided to play with her tones, and that's something that you can notice within the film, and she very much evolves. Her tones change depending on who she's talking to."
M3GAN arrived in theaters at an eerily convenient time as AI technology makes headlines across a number of industries.
"I think this movie has really opened up my eyes to the possibility of the future and of technology, and I think that's what the movie is all about - how will technology shape our future?" Davis said.
"I also think the movie perhaps could cause us to pause and think about how much we want technology to be in our lives."
Brian Jordan Alvarez also joined KRLD's What to Watch team to talk about his role in the film. You might recognize Alvarez from shows like 'Will & Grace' or 'Jane The Virgin.' For the full interview, listen above, or tap here.
The film saw massive box office success, earning over $30 million in its first week alone. M3GAN is now playing in theaters.
If you aren't in the mood to contemplate the nature of technology, perhaps you'll want to learn more about the nature of human beings! Here are some more new releases for you to check out this weekend.
The Subtle art of not giving a F*CK
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is based on the globally successful self-help book of the same name. The author, Mark Manson, also stars in the film which aims to help people become better versions of themselves, and, as the title say, stop 'giving a f*ck.'
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is now available in select theaters. You can also rent the film on Prime Video or Apple TV.
Black Mafia Family
Black Mafia Family is back with their highly anticipated second season on Starz. The crime drama is inspired by the true story of two brothers, Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory and Chad "J-Bo" Brown, who “rose from the decaying streets of southwest Detroit in the late ’80s and gave birth to one of the most influential crime families in this country.”
The first episode of BMF Season 2 is now available on Starz, with new episodes added every Friday.
PLANE
If you like edge-of-your-seat action-thrillers, then you won't want to miss Plane. Lead by Gerard Butler, the film follows commercial pilot Brodie Terrance on his journey to freedom after being taken hostage in a remote island in the Philippines.
Plane is released in theaters on Friday, January 11th.
VELMA
Remember the good ol' days when you would wake up, eat some cereal right in front of the TV, and watch Mystery Inc. solve mysteries on Scooby-Doo? Well, now you can do it again - sort of!
'Velma' is the newest spin-off of the Scooby-Doo franchise from HBO Max. It reintroduces the brains of Mystery Inc., Velma, and dives a bit deeper into her origin. Voiced by Mindy Kaling, the character and show are geared to an older audience this time around, so don't knock it just because it's animated!
The first episode is now available on HBO Max.
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