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The Return of Mr. Glass

Last week, Director M. Night Shyamalan announced over his Twitter account that he is working on a new film. While these may just be simply the morning Twitter ramblings of an overzealous director, there is hope it’ll work out. Based on the characters used in the early 2000’s movie, ‘Unbreakable‘ and last Falls ‘Split,’ Shyamalan will be combining both storylines into this film.

James McAvoy in “Split.”


A quick refresher on both films, ‘Unbreakable’ stars Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson. Spoiler alert 17 years later, Jackson plays the villain named “Glass,” or “Elijah Price.”  He has spent most of his life looking for the Character of Willis, “David Dunn,” who is seemingly “Unbreakable.” An exact opposite of “Price” who’s brittle bone structure has afflicted him since he was a child and for which he has the name “Glass.”

It’s taken 17 years but I can finally answer the #1 question I get, “Are you making a f#&@ing sequel to Unbreakable or what?” — M. Night Shyamalan (@MNightShyamalan) April 26, 2017

Shyamalan says the film won’t release until 2019 making it almost 20 years since the release of ‘Unbreakable.’ Although, Shyamalan need not worry because Willis and Jackson haven’t aged since they accepted their baldness. What is interesting is that the character of ‘Glass’ is not like most characters Jackson has played. Especially in more recent years, Jackson has been relegated to the same role as the angry shouting man; thankfully this performance is different. Giving Jackson a role that allows him to do more than screaming his lines is better for everyone.

The incomparable @SamuelLJackson will return as Elijah Price/Mr. Glass — M. Night Shyamalan (@MNightShyamalan) April 26, 2017

Now, Split, on the other hand, is only a few months old and in the years since ‘Unbreakable,’ is one of the few recent successes had by Shyamalan. Starring James McAvoy, the film follows three teenagers as they are held captive by a man with Dissociative Identity Disorder (McAvoy). While the movie met with much controversy, it did very well with critics and movie goers alike. The film’s success is more than likely the reason Shaymalan has been given the green light to go ahead with the joint sequel.


Details of the project are unclear at this point but if Shyamalan sticks to what he knows it’ll be based somewhere near Philadelphia. All of his major successes have been located in Philly and surrounding areas. That being said the further he strays from the location the more problems seem to arrive with his work.

The virtuoso #JamesMcAvoy returns as Kevin Wendell Crumb, Patricia, Dennis, Hedwig, Barry, Jade, Orwell, The Beast, Heinrich, Norma, Pol- — M. Night Shyamalan (@MNightShyamalan) April 26, 2017

My new film is the sequel to #Unbreakable AND #Split. It was always my dream to have both films collide in this third film. — M. Night Shyamalan (@MNightShyamalan) April 26, 2017

Shyamalan is currently trying to reestablish his reputation as a filmmaker after bust’s like “After Earth” and “The Last Airbender.” Both movies being domestic financial and critical flops. Shyamalan has shown at best, inconsistency when working with a large budget.


His track record suggests when he has money to play with the movie ends up being a bust. It is estimated, that his last two films were produced for a combined 14 million. With any luck, Shyamalan has learned from his budgetary mistakes he’s made in the past. If he succeeds with this project, it may join “The Sixth Sense” as the defining work of his career.


As well as being important for Shyamalan, this role will be important for Jackson. The Character of Elijah Price is something audiences are not used to seeing from Jackson. Showing how Jackson’s talents often go to waste in over the top roles (See “Kong: Skull Island for reference“). Seeing how it will be based on Jackson, this could end up being one final lead role for the soon to be 70-year-old. The quiet tone of “Unbreakable” and “Split” will show audiences a more complicated side of Jackson in “Glass.”

And the film is called GLASS… — M. Night Shyamalan (@MNightShyamalan) April 26, 2017

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