Universal’s “Soulm8te,” an AI-robot spinoff of the “M3GAN” franchise, moves forward as a straight-to-digital release after its theatrical run is pulled. Multiple outlets report that the title was removed from Universal’s theatrical release calendar late last year. The film will now be released through Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, with digital rental availability beginning August 1 on participating digital platforms. The movie is described as an erotic thriller, with a premise centered on a technology-driven twist tied to the franchise’s killer-robot concept.
Gizmodo also reports that the change in release strategy follows Universal’s assessment that “M3GAN 2.0” underperformed at the box office. Variety similarly frames the decision in terms of the earlier removal from the theatrical schedule, while detailing the new home-entertainment distribution plan and accompanying trailer information. Across coverage, the key points are that “Soulm8te” is shifting from theaters to digital rental and that Universal sets an August 1 start date.
