The Blumhouse family is counting their lucky stars that they met Violet McGraw’s family.
In April 2020, McGraw landed the role of 10-year-old Cady James in the techno horror-comedy “M3GAN,” produced by Blumhouse/Atomic Monster. Later in July 2020, Madeleine McGraw, Violet’s sibling, was signed for the lead in their studio’s supernatural horror film titled “The Black Phone.” Both movies earned over $343 million at the box office against a joint production budget under $30 million. This remarkable success led to swift decisions for sequels, with “M3GAN 2.0” hitting theaters on June 27 and a second installment of “The Black Phone” set for release this fall.
In the sequel to Gerard Johnstone’s 2023 movie M3GAN, two years have passed since the original events, and at 12 years old, Cady continues to struggle with her aunt Gemma (Allison Williams) due to Gemma’s strict rules on technology use and the scarcity of time they spend together. Absorbed in her attempts to make amends for creating a lethal AI doll in public, Gemma has left Cady little choice but to find creative solutions to pursue her growing fascination with coding.
In the sequel, it’s clear that Cady is becoming more interested in technology. However, McGraw mentions to The Hollywood Reporter that Gemma isn’t fond of this development because she doesn’t want Cady to emulate her or create another M3GAN along those lines.
14-year-old McGraw confessed that she hadn’t understood what artificial intelligence (AI) was before she starred in a movie about an AI-controlled android that committed violent acts in the name of “protecting” Cady. The discussion about this new technology grew substantially after the film’s release, as chatbots and AI artwork were becoming popular topics amidst the approaching labor conflicts concerning AI issues within Hollywood.
McGraw became more wary of AI due to the movie M3GAN. It gave him a slight feeling of unease, something he wouldn’t have considered before being part of the film.
To put it simply, she finds it hard to hide her affection for the sassy robot, as she’s grown quite fond of Amie Donald, who portrayed M3GAN on set.
McGraw expresses his deep affection for M3GAN, stating that if it were possible for M3GAN to exist in reality – though it’s best she doesn’t – he would absolutely consider her a close friend.
Violet and her 16-year-old sister, Madeleine, are brimming with self-motivated aspirations. In the year 2024, they appeared together in a supernatural film titled “The Curse of the Necklace“, which they jointly produced with their mother, Jackie. The McGraw sisters have recently completed production on another project that combines acting and producing, “High Stakes Holiday“, for Warner Bros. These sisters are excited to continue working in harmony, a rarity among sibling actors in the industry. (To date, the Fanning sisters have not shared a scene together, while the Mara sisters have just completed their first movie together after many years of individual work.)
“This is merely the start, and considering we’ve already produced two movies, I believe there’s much more we can achieve,” McGraw expresses. “We both are keen on doing more behind-the-scenes work as producers or possibly even directors. However, we definitely plan to act alongside each other again.
In a recent chat with THR, I shared my unique insights playing the young Yelena Belova, as portrayed by Florence Pugh in Black Widow, and then again in Thunderbolts. Reflecting back, it’s been quite a journey working with the talented Mike Flanagan on multiple projects of ours.
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It seems you inquired about whether Jason Blum and James Wan, the producers of M3GAN, had met you because of your sister’s movie, The Black Phone. However, it appears that both of you landed your roles at Blumhouse through different casting processes, as M3GAN had a different set of casting directors. Did your Blumhouse role come about a few months after Madeleine secured hers? That must have been an exhilarating period for your family!
It was incredibly thrilling, yet I can’t pinpoint exactly when it happened. It seems like it was a long time ago, but I believe it was roughly during that same time frame.
[Note from the Writer: Violet took on the role for M3GAN back in April 2020, but Madeleine wasn’t cast in The Black Phone until later. The pandemic caused delays and changes in schedules, so The Black Phone was filmed first in February 2021. To prevent losing Madeleine due to her ongoing Disney show commitments, Scott Derrickson moved the filming dates for The Black Phone. In June 2021, Violet began shooting M3GAN.]
When M3GAN was released and turned out to be popular, you were already 11 years old. Did you and your friends get permission to watch it?
Instead of me saying we, I personally took every acquaintance I had to the movies, and we all watched the film. Admittedly, I’m not overly fond of watching myself on screen because I tend to scrutinize my performance. It feels like, “I should have done that differently,” but going to the cinema with friends to see a movie I’m in was an enjoyable experience.
Back when I was creating this game, did I think it would be too intense or frightening for someone my age to play?
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Were concerns about violence and fear arising from the gameplay something I had in mind while designing it, given my own age at the time?
To be truthful, no. It’s surprising that some of my most avid fans are often young six-year-olds, and I find myself wondering, “How is this age group allowed to watch this?” However, during the production process, I wasn’t particularly concerned about the graphic content as there wasn’t a lot of it. It’s only afterward that the gore aspect becomes more apparent to me.
Hollywood is struggling to understand what can entice today’s teens to visit cinemas, as it appears that going to movies isn’t as important to them as previous generations. Can you tell us what would make you and your peers more inclined to head to movie theaters instead?
To be honest, our entire group of friends absolutely adores visiting cinemas. We particularly enjoy watching high-quality films there, and we always carry along some cozy blankets and an assortment of tasty treats. There’s something about the aroma in a movie theater that instantly draws me to it. The atmosphere is simply fantastic – it’s just wonderful!
Have you figured out why it’s not as important to other people your age?
It seems to me that some individuals find comfort in staying at home and watching television. However, there’s just no substitute for the experience of going to a cinema, where you can share the excitement with an audience and their collective reactions can be truly thrilling. Consequently, I personally prefer going to a movie theater over staying at home.
Watching M3GAN, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own reliance on technology. Has your parental screen-time supervision become stricter since we both saw it?
My screen time remains consistent, as during that period, we had set screen time limits on my iPad. However, these limitations were not solely due to the movie; they’ve always been careful about our media consumption. But the movie M3GAN made me more mindful of Artificial Intelligence. At age 10 while filming the movie, I wasn’t fully aware of what it was, so I became more cautious about it afterward. Nowadays, with the widespread use of chatbots like ChatGPT and Snap AI, as well as self-driving cars, which is quite astonishing, it does give me a slight sense of apprehension. If I hadn’t been part of M3GAN, I probably wouldn’t have considered these aspects in the same way.
According to the production notes for M3GAN 2.0, it’s stated that you prevent your crew from watching your scenes while filming. Is this accurate?
Of course, I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s absolutely accurate. If they choose to, they certainly can watch. For me, having them on set just gives me peace of mind. I adore my parents dearly, and they have the liberty to do whatever pleases them most.
In the sequel to M3GAN 2.0, we find Cady at twelve years old. To prevent another incident like the one in the first movie, Gemma keeps a close eye on her technology usage. Interestingly, Cady doesn’t have a cell phone. However, she manages to discover covert methods of learning coding without Gemma realizing it.
Absolutely, the hidden tablet within the picture frame was quite intriguing. My anticipation ran high as I wondered how we’d pull off this trick. Cady seems to be growing more interested in technology following the initial film, but Gemma isn’t particularly fond of it since she doesn’t want Cady to emulate her or create another M3GAN, if you will. However, Gemma is also quite tired of Aunt Gemma’s stringent rules regarding screens and such.
It’s good to see that it appears the problems Gemma had with Cady’s roller coaster behavior and bathroom manners no longer exist.
(Chuckles.) Now, we’ve sorted out any problems with the coaster or bathroom. Everything’s fine in that department. However, Cady and Gemma are still figuring things out regarding their relationship. Essentially, Cady is hoping that Gemma can be a reliable support system for her when she needs it the most.
At the beginning, Gemma speaks up and points out to Cady that she’s still a 12-year-old girl. Just like I can recall, I too yearned to be seen as more mature than my actual age. Can you identify with Cady’s feelings in this situation? Have there been times when you wished to be treated as older than your real age?
As a child, I often found myself yearning to be included in the activities and social circles of my older siblings’ friends. This desire stemmed from their friendships being more advanced than mine at that time. However, presently, I simply wish to be perceived as a typical 14-year-old, without any special treatment or expectations.
Overall, do you share anything else in common with Cady?
I share a deep affection for M3GAN, and my admiration for it runs quite high. If by some twist of fate, M3GAN were to exist in reality (which ideally shouldn’t), I’d undeniably consider her as a close friend. Such an interaction would be incredibly exciting! Consequently, I’d definitely reconsider giving M3GAN another opportunity.
Is it that you love M3GAN? Or is it really that you love Amie Donald as M3GAN?
It’s a valid observation. When interacting with M3GAN on screen, I was aware that my friend was concealed behind the mask, which made it more natural and allowed me to fully immerse myself in the scene. Consequently, what I might prefer is not my own M3GAN, but rather my very own Amie. (Laughs lightly>.>)
Have you remained friends between movies?
Just a few short minutes ago, we were discussing our outfits for the upcoming premiere.
How frequently do you collaborate with Amie compared to the M3GAN animatronic puppet during filming scenes?
In essence, it’s rather unclear, but if there’s minimal blinking or movement, it likely resembles an animatronic. I must admit, the craftsmanship behind that is mind-boggling. The doll from the first film was impressive, but the one from the second movie is downright astonishing. Many people believe M3GAN to be digitally created, but if you were to witness her in real life, your eyes might deceive you.
Is the ratio something like 75 percent Amie and 25 percent animatronic?
Yeah, that’s a good rating system, I would say.
Jenna Davis voices M3GAN in post, but Amie still delivers her lines on the day?
Indeed, she does take on the role flawlessly. She memorizes every line with precision, and her performance is simply exceptional. Amie and Jenna truly embody the ideal M3GANs.
Cady is also taking Aikido classes. Has any of that training stuck with you?
As a fervent fan, I must admit, I haven’t had the opportunity to utilize it so far, but if you were to quiz me on it right now, I fear I would draw a blank. If pressed to demonstrate it at this moment, I’m afraid my performance wouldn’t meet expectations. However, there is one move that I recall vividly; I can’t share the details just yet. Interestingly enough, Cady has started playing soccer too, which is fascinating because in reality, so do I. We haven’t explicitly defined her position on the field, but let’s speculate now – she plays as a striker or center-midfielder, much like I do.
Growing up, I was fed a regular dose of Steven Seagal films. Was the name ‘Steven Seagal’ familiar to you prior to seeing this movie?
Prior to our filming session, Gerard and I received a call to brief me on his intentions regarding Cady’s idol. That’s where I gained a better understanding of the subject matter.
It wasn’t until recently that I discovered you portrayed young Yelena in both “Black Widow” and “Thunderbolts”. To be honest, I didn’t recognize you, and it was likely due to your blonde hair. Did Marvel’s casting director find out about you when your sister took on the role of young Hope Van Dyne in “Ant-Man and the Wasp”?
Back then, when I was just eight years old, I watched Black Widow. Whether that influenced me or not, I’m not certain. It certainly might have played a role in some way.
In the movie “Black Widow,” they created a blonde wig that resembled me incredibly well. It wasn’t me, though; it was a dummy. Marvel is capable of such feats, and it was quite mind-boggling. My mom walked into the hair and makeup trailer and said to me, “Violet, you put on your wig very quickly.” However, she was addressing the doll, not me. We have a photograph of it, and it’s somewhat unsettling. Additionally, in the upcoming movie “Thunderbolts,” I wore a blonde wig as well, so for a while, I had a brief stint as a blonde character, which was amusing.
Were you clear on the meaning behind the Thunderbolts scenes when they occurred? And approximately how much background information were you provided about those flashback sequences?
Jake Schreier, the director, was fantastic. He significantly enhanced the overall experience. The scene was quite dark and deeply sad, so understanding the context was crucial for me as young Yelena. Of course, collaborating with Florence Pugh was a delightful experience. She’s incredibly talented.
I saw you and Florence on the Thunderbolts* red carpet, and I think you’re taller than her now.
Either I’m taller or we stand at the same height – this is what she said when I reminded her of our first meeting. ‘You were up to here,’ she mimicked, pointing to a certain spot on herself.”
“Nowadays, everyone mentions how short I used to be. Last year, I grew four inches out of nowhere, which was quite astonishing! However, considering that I was wearing heels when we met on the carpet, it’s fair to say we’re about the same height.
What’s the key to playing a younger version of her?
Wow, I can hardly contain my excitement! It’s not every day that a younger version of a Marvel character like me gets another chance. I was so thankful for this opportunity. Once, on the set of Black Widow, I even got to share a secret little finger gesture with the older Yelena in her trailer – something we were both going to do in the movie. Unfortunately, they decided not to use it, but it would have been a neat connection between our characters.
Mike Flanagan, with whom you previously collaborated on The Haunting of Hill House, has recently invited you for Life of Chuck. Does it always make you feel honored when people ask you to work together again?
Absolutely, it’s quite an amazing opportunity! Michael Flanagan has extended an invitation to me for a role in “Doctor Sleep.” This man is truly exceptional; his creative vision for films and television series is nothing short of remarkable. Upon receiving his invitation to rejoin him on these projects, I was filled with immense gratitude, praying that I could meet his expectations. I wanted to perform well for him, so I’m hopeful that our professional relationship continues in the future.
Your Doctor Sleep scene with Rebecca Ferguson still freaks me out.
I still haven’t seen the movie.
Your parents wouldn’t let you?
Absolutely, the film does have some intense moments, and at its premiere, they advised me against watching it because of my age. At that time, I was only eight years old. So, I reluctantly agreed not to see it then. However, I’ve yet to watch it, so I’m eagerly looking forward to catching up with the film soon.
Did you feel genuinely frightened during that moment, or were you perhaps unsure about the events unfolding?
Contrary to what people might assume, I’m rarely frightened when making horror films. During the production of “The Haunting of Hill House,” I even shared lunch with the ghostly characters, which wasn’t particularly spooky. With all the crew members present and no background music or sound effects yet, it felt less frightening. However, the set of that terrifying house on the soundstage was the only time I experienced genuine fear while filming. Generally, I don’t get scared easily on set.
You and Madeleine recently filmed “High Stakes Holiday” for Warner Bros. in Las Vegas. It’s like a blend of a heist movie with elements similar to “Home Alone”.
Absolutely, you’ve captured the essence of it. It was fantastic! My mother, sister, and I were the ones who created it, and filming in Las Vegas was an incredible experience. We encountered our fair share of challenges, but I have a deep affection for this vibrant city.
You three collaborated on creating The Curse of the Necklace together, which I appreciate. It’s refreshing to see you and Madeleine portraying your on-screen sibling relationship given that it reflects your real-life bond. Many acting siblings shy away from or haven’t found the ideal scenario for this dynamic.
Absolutely, my sister and I don’t have disagreements in our real-life interactions. We’ve never been the competitive type, and there’s no rivalry between us. Instead, she has always offered me guidance on how to improve in various aspects. While I haven’t given her advice directly, I hope that I’ve provided some support for her professional growth.
Do you have even more plans together?
Absolutely! We’re just scratching the surface here, and with two films under our belts already, I believe there’s a lot more to explore. Our shared ambition lies in taking on more responsibilities behind the camera, perhaps even stepping into the roles of producers or directors. It would be fantastic, but rest assured we’ll share the screen together again in the future as well-matched co-stars.
What was your most memorable day on the M3GAN 2.0 set?
In another words, I’m not great at keeping secrets, but a particular moment that stands out for me was the initial scene featuring Jemaine Clement. In no other rehearsal have I laughed more intensely, and once I start laughing, it’s tough to regain my composure. Jemaine is simply hilarious, and his performance in this scene made it absolutely uproarious. It took a few attempts, but we finally nailed it.
In the trailer, Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno) appears to have an encounter with Cady. What does this scene symbolize or represent on that particular day?
It was just a small, green sticker. Either someone had a green X mark on their hand, or I was peering at the lower part of somebody’s body. That situation was absolutely bizarre, and it was me who managed to squeeze through the wall.
Did you stick around M3GAN’s dance party?
Indeed, that dance scene was one of the scenes I had planned to discuss. Prior to receiving the script for “M3GAN 2.0”, I was brainstorming potential developments. So, I thought, “Perhaps they could incorporate more dance moves,” and amazingly, they did just that! That dance and that costume? Truly iconic.
Did anyone try to talk their way into that scene?
I’m sure. Who wouldn’t want to dance with M3GAN? Come on now.
***
M3GAN 2.0 opens in movie theaters nationwide on June 27.
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2025-06-26 02:26