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EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures has removed the Blumhouse and Atomic Monster sci-fi thriller Soulm8te from its January 9, 2024, release schedule.
The studio is reportedly seeking a new distributor for the film, which is directed by Kate Dolan. Initially, Soulm8te was marketed as part of the M3GAN universe. The first installment, released in 2022, became a phenomenon with a global box office of $180 million and nearly $80 million in profit. However, M3GAN 2.0, which hit theaters this summer, did not replicate its predecessor’s success, earning $39 million worldwide against a budget of $25 million.
Meanwhile, Paramount’s Walter Hamada has moved the genre film Primate to the Soulm8te release date. As a result, the reshuffling was anticipated, as two major studios typically avoid releasing competing horror films on the same weekend.
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In Soulm8te, the storyline follows a man who acquires an artificial intelligence android to cope with the loss of his recently deceased wife. His attempt to create a sentient partner unexpectedly leads to a lovebot transforming into a deadly soulmate. The film stars Claudia Doumit, Lily Sullivan, Isabelle Bonfrer, Emma Ramos, and Sydney Blackburn, among others.
The project draws inspiration from the classic erotic thrillers of the 1990s. Dolan is also recognized for her 2021 indie horror film You Are Not My Mother.
Produced by James Wan’s Atomic Monster and Jason Blum’s Blumhouse, Soulm8te features a story co-written by Wan, Ingrid Bisu (Malignant), and Rafael Jordan (Salvage Marines), with Dolan and Jordan responsible for the screenplay. Executive producers include Michael Clear and Judson Scott for Atomic Monster, along with Bisu.
Blumhouse and Atomic Monster recently achieved significant box office success with Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, which opened to $64 million in the U.S. and Canada—setting a record debut for the post-Thanksgiving weekend. The sequel has grossed $96.8 million domestically and $175 million worldwide, contributing to a cumulative total of $466.5 million across both Freddy’s films. Additionally, Freddy’s 2 marked the biggest December horror movie opening in history and stands as the second-largest horror debut of 2025, following Blumhouse-Atomic Monster’s own The Conjuring: Last Rites, which opened at $84 million.
