It takes something electric to shake up horror and that’s exactly what screenwriter Akela Cooper did when she transformed a killer-AI-doll pitch into 2022’s “M3GAN.” The movie became a cultural obsession that has now moved into its next chapter with “M3GAN 2.0.” Cooper’s work, however, extends far beyond the limits of a killer robot doll. She’s the creative force pushing horror into bolder, more inclusive directions.

Who is Akela Cooper?

Born and raised in Hayti, Missouri, Cooper grew up steeped in genre storytelling. Cooper’s earliest inspirations started with her family. Her dad loved sci‑fi and B‑movies like “Pumpkinhead,” while her siblings dragged her into horror fandom before she was old enough to object. As a “Freddy girl,” she was haunted by “Elm Street,” “Child’s Play,” “Alien,” “The Thing,” and “Chucky.”

From a childhood haunted by “Twilight Zone” reruns and “A Nightmare on Elm Street” led by older siblings, to earning her MFA from USC on an NAACP/CBS fellowship, she’s always flown proudly under horror’s flag.

Her rise began in television, earning credits on “Grimm,” “The 100” (where she rose to co-producer and executive story editor), “Luke Cage,” “American Horror Story,” “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” “Jupiter’s Legacy,” and more. But it was her leap into feature horror that cemented her influence.

The Birth of M3GAN

In a meeting with Australian filmmaker James Wan’s production company, Cooper came armed with ideas for a new film and walked out entrusted with a logline: a “Child’s Play meets Chopping Mall” AI-doll thriller. Within weeks she’d completed a first draft, opening on a car crash that orphaned Cady, the emotional nucleus of “M3GAN,” and injected the story with heart and urgency.

This emotional through-line is what sets Cooper’s writing apart. She isn’t just writing horror, she’s writing characters.

“I don’t ever really write to tone,” she said in conversation with Vanity Fair. “It all just starts with the characters. What are the characters doing? What are they feeling?”

When she pitched “M3GAN,” she didn’t just offer a killer robot. She anchored it in the fear of surrogate parenting and the unsettling edge of technology nannying. Through this lens, “M3GAN” is more than gore. It’s about grief, care, and the fear of letting something unnatural fill a deeply human void.

Her script-writing process is just as sharp. She completed a first draft in four to six weeks, having already sifted through research and story beats for previous work like “Malignant” and “The Nun II.”

Although the film boasts a bit of fun and comedy along with the gore, Cooper never shied away from the genre’s grit. Early drafts were darker and more blood-soaked, but studio considerations trimmed it to PG-13 to reach broader audiences. Still, she’s hopeful fans might someday unlock the original R-rated “director’s cut.”

“M3GAN 2.0” has already hit theaters, and Cooper hints the story she’s building can keep dancing. She left narrative doors wide open, teasing that if Hollywood wants more, she’s ready.

Akela Cooper Movies

Long before “M3GAN” put her name in viral headlines and box office headlines, Cooper had already been sharpening her blade in the world of genre film.

Her feature debut came with “Hell Fest” in 2018, a slasher set in a Halloween horror park where things turn deadly. Though the film didn’t break the mold critically, it gave Cooper her first taste of writing horror for the big screen.

Then came “Malignant” in 2021. Collaborating again with James Wan, Cooper crafted a wild, giallo-inspired narrative that took massive risks. It was bold, bloody, and unapologetically weird. It showed that Cooper wasn’t afraid to let her imagination go off the rails if it meant crafting something that hadn’t been seen before.

Just a year later, she co-wrote “The Nun II,” part of “The Conjuring” Universe. Once again, she brought a dimension to characters that many other horror films are missing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does “M3GAN 2.0” have a post‑credits scene?
No M3GAN 2.0 does not have any post-credits scenes. There are montages of clips from both M3GAN movies, but no teaser for any upcoming films in the M3GAN universe.

Will there be a “M3GAN 3”?
While there is no official confirmation of a “M3GAN 3,” Cooper has said the duo of films was built on narrative momentum, and she’s ready to return if studios sign off.