M. Night Shyamalan is the Kanye West of film directors. You know the guy has talent, but his ego is just so overbearing you don’t care about anything he does. Shyamalan is tapping the world of horror with his idea for Devil, a film about a group of people stuck in an elevator with the fallen angel. John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle (Quarantine, The Poughkeepsie Tapes) are directing from Brian Nelson’s (30 Days Of Night) fleshed out script for Shymalan’s idea. “This is a dream for me. I wanted to find filmmakers that inspire me and I found them,” said Shyamalan.
Chris Messina, Bojana Novakovic, Bokeem Woodbine, Geoffrey Arend and the very very gorgeous Caroline Dhavernas have already been cast in the film which starts October 24th, aiming for a PG-13 rating. It will be the first under a three-film financing/production partnership with independent financier Media Rights Capital, dubbed the Night Chronicles. The subsequent two films, set to begin production in 2010 and 2011 will also be based on his original stories.
Coming from Shyamalan, it could go either way; though since it’s not coming directly from him there’s the chance it could be good. I won’t dismiss the elevator location as stupid — not as stupid as, say, a horror movie set in a parking lot. Two of my favorite films are Rope and 12 Angry Men, which are both dialogue heavy, single location films. Also, what’s Hollywood’s current fascination with elevators? What do you all think? Interesting or stupid?
-Brian
Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iea9ebb170ad87d30fdbab36919119f48
I like your comparison of M Night to Kanye West, it's very fitting. Though I probably would rather listen to a new Kanye West song then watch a new M Night movie.
Dennis
Interesting.
Years ago I actually penned a short story based upon two men who spend an afternoon stuck in an elevator, while the first man slowly discovers he is spending the afternoon with the Devil.
I'm most afraid that he's going to butcher one of my favorite, recent animated series – Avatar: The Last Airbender. His most recent outings don't inspire much confidence. The Happening was NOT a good movie – not at all.
I think M Night made a pact with the Devil in order to be this rich and successful!
If you still have it, I'd be interesting in reading it.
Brian
Granted it was a crazy short teaser that showed absolutely nothing about the film, I thought it looked good. I'm hoping outside source material and the heavy involvement of the original creators makes it something he can't bring his egomania into.
Brian
I disagree. There was genuine talent there. Then, there was The Village. Then, there was Lady In The Water. And Hollywood wept.
Brian
I wouldn't. lol
Brian
I hated The Happening, probably one of the worst movies I've ever seen in my life.
Dennis
There's a discernible downward arc in quality for M. Night's movies, starting with The Sixth Sense and ending with The Happening. It's almost like he's trying TOO hard.
I'm hopeful but not optimistic that said arc will take an upward turn soon.