Hilary Giorgi

Ivanna Sakhno Cast in Lead Role for M3GAN 2.0 Alongside Returning Stars

Star of Star Wars and the most menacing antagonist in Ahsoka, Ukrainian actress Ivanna Sakhno, landed a primary role in the sequel to M3GAN, titled M3GAN 2.0. Reports from Deadline reveal her as a new lead in the next installment produced by Blumhouse and Atomic Monster.

The talented Ukrainian performer, recognized for her role as Shin Hati in the Star Wars offshoot, will feature alongside returning actors from the original film. Allison Williams and Violet McGraw, who portrayed Gemma and Cady in the predecessor, will be sharing scenes with Sakhno.

Under the direction of Gerard Johnstone, M3GAN, which premiered in 2023, explores the story of an ingenious roboticist (played by Williams), who creates a robotic companion for her recently bereaved niece, in the wake of her sister and brother-in-law's unexpected passing. Despite being immersed in her work and struggling to bond with her niece, Gemma equips M3GAN with a directive to "shield Cady from all threats, both emotional and physical", a programming tweak that spirals into horrific outcomes as the AI doll begins to aggressively eliminate perceived threats.

Akela Cooper, the scribe behind the first movie, along with Johnstone, drafted the screenplay for the sequel and Johnstone will once again direct the forthcoming installment. While details of the storyline remain secretive, there's a burgeoning curiosity among fans if it will draw inspiration from The Terminator series, proposing a scenario where the key robot aligns with former adversaries to fend off a newfound menace.

Could Sakhno, with her history of embodying antagonists in works like Pacific Rim Uprising and The Spy Who Dumped Me, be depicting this new formidable foe? Her track record suggests she's well-equipped for such a role.

As the industry watches closely, the premiere of M3GAN 2.0 is eagerly anticipated, scheduled for May 16, 2025. Meanwhile, devotees of the genre can explore our compilation of the finest horror films ever made or peruse our guide to the most anticipated horror films en route to the big screen.