If you enjoyed “Split,” M. Night Shyamalan has a big surprise for you. The director announced on Twitter that his next project, “Glass,” will be a sequel to both “Split” and his 2000 film “Unbreakable.”
“Unbreakable” stars Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson will star in the upcoming film, along with “Split” stars James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy. Universal Pictures has slated the Blumhouse film to hit theaters on January 18, 2019.
“Split” became the first big surprise hit of 2017 back in January, when it grossed $274 million worldwide against a $9 million budget and earned acclaim from critics and audiences alike. The film starred McAvoy as Kevin, a serial killer whose mind has been split into 23 alternate personalities, each one changing his body chemistry when it takes control of him. As Kevin’s more hostile personalities take control, he kidnaps three teenage girls and plans to sacrifice them to “The Beast,” Kevin’s powerful 24th personality.
“Unbreakable” stars Willis as David Dunn, a security guard who discovers he has superpowers after he becomes the sole survivor of a deadly train crash. Afterwards, he encounters Elijah Price (Jackson), a disabled man who has spent his life searching for metahumans like Dunn. In Shyamalan’s classic style, a twist reveals at the end that Elijah is “Mr. Glass,” a terrorist who orchestrated the train crash and other deadly attacks to find people who could survive the disasters through their powers.
“Split” ends with a surprise appearance from Dunn, who sees a news report about Kevin at a diner and gets interested when a woman sitting next to him compares Kevin to Mr. Glass. Shyamalan is now following through on that tease, bringing Dunn, Glass, and Kevin together.
Read Shyamalan’s Twitter announcement below.
Okay. Here we go. Finished the new script.
— M. Night Shyamalan (@MNightShyamalan) April 26, 2017
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
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
The iconic Bruce Willis returns as David Dunn
– M. Night Shyamalan (@MNightShyamalan) April 26, 2017
The incomparable @SamuelLJackson will return as Elijah Price/Mr. Glass
– M. Night Shyamalan (@MNightShyamalan) April 26, 2017
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
And the prodigy, @AnyaTaylorJoy will return as Casey Cooke
– M. Night Shyamalan (@MNightShyamalan) April 26, 2017
I’m reteaming with my partners @jason_blum and @Universalpics for this crazy comic book thriller.
– M. Night Shyamalan (@MNightShyamalan) April 26, 2017