Universal Sends 'Soulm8te' Straight to Digital After 'M3GAN 2.0' Underperforms

Universal released "Soulm8te," the M3GAN franchise's third entry, direct to digital platforms on August 1 in the U.S. and several territories, bypassing cinemas. The Hollywood Reporter links the move to M3GAN 2.0's box-office underperformance. Universal had removed the film from its January 2026 slot and shopped it to other distributors in December 2025, per Variety. The franchise began with a theatrical hit in 2023's M3GAN.