M. Night Shyamalan announces dates for two new thrillers at Universal

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

After scaring up some impressive numbers at the box office with the release of THE VISIT, SPLIT and GLASS, its been announced that Universal and filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan will partner for two untitled thrillers that are due to arrive in theaters on February 26, 2021, and February 17, 2023.

“M. Night Shyamalan continues to create exciting, highly original stories that keep global audiences on the edge of their seats,” Universal Pictures President Peter Cramer said in a statement. “There is no one like him. He is a master filmmaker working at the height of his powers, and we are honored that he has once again chosen Universal to be the home for his next two incredible projects.”

When talking about his return to Universal, Shyamalan stated, “There are wonderful studios out there, but Universal has made it a mandate to release original films. They are the best at finding an audience for new stories with unexpected tones.  I believe original films are crucial to the longevity of the theatrical experience.  I am so excited to be working with them again and bringing new stories to the movie screen for years to come.”

Previous reports state that the "What a twist" filmmaker had independently financed his last three theatrical efforts for the combined tune of $35 million. While that's certainly a lot of "out of pocket" money for you or I, box office records show that Shyamalan and Universal made a combined return of $625 million for the above-mentioned trifecta of films. Smartly, Shyamalan will finance his next two projects using the same lucrative strategy.

Known for crafting films that boggle the mind (both in content and quality) Shyamalan's resurgence within Hollywood's inner circle is the stuff of legend. Once referred to as the "Alfred Hitchcock of his era," Shyamalan's star had faded considerably after he unleashed a series of underwhelming films, including LADY IN THE WATER, THE HAPPENING, THE LAST AIRBENDER and AFTER EARTH. For a time, it looked as if his reputation for making imaginative films was tarnished beyond repair. But in 2015, Shyamalan came roaring back into the fold with THE VISIT, a thriller that told the tale of two siblings who become increasingly frightened by their grandparents' disturbing behavior while visiting them on vacation. With his good name seemingly restored, Shyamalan hit audiences hard with a SPLIT and GLASS double-tap. Fans responded in a big way to the filmmaker's Elseworlds superhero story, and things have been coming up Milhouse ever since.

We'll be keeping an eye out for details related to Shyamalan's next tow films, but in the meantime, why not let us know if you're psyched for this announcement in the comments section below?