In a twist worthy of “Unbreakable” or “The Village,” Warner Bros Pictures Group has closed a multi-year first-look directing and producing agreement with Oscar-nominated filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan.
The filmmaker’s works have grossed $3.3 billion at the box office to date and he has the rare distinction of having film open at No. 1 in each decade since the 1990s – including his seventh No. 1 opening at the box office earlier this month with “Knock at the Cabin”.
Under the new agreement, Shyamalan and his Blinding Edge Pictures label will develop original projects for the filmmaker to produce and/or direct for Warner Bros Pictures and New Line Cinema.
The first project in the pipeline is Shyamalan’s likely next directorial effort “Trap” which is dated for theatrical release on August 2nd 2024. The company also recently acquired “The Watchers” which Shyamalan will produce and which is to be written and directed by his middle daughter, Ishana.
Shyamalan says in a statement: “Disney and Universal, where I’ve made most of my films, will always be home and family to me. Warner Bros. has a storied history of cinema. Through its recent experiences, the company has rediscovered its love and appreciation for filmmakers, and the impact of the theatrical experience. We all win when movies succeed in theaters. I believe David Zaslav, Michael De Luca, and Pam Abdy have dedicated themselves to unique filmmakers, and to filling theaters all around the world for years to come.”
Shyamalan follows a number deals made recently by Warner Bros. Pictures Group co-chairs and CEOs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy with filmmakers including Baz Luhrmann and more recently Akiva Goldsman’s Weed Road label.
Source: Deadline
