While there are plenty of sequels and crossover films currently in the works, none had a path quite as fascinating as M. Night Shyamalan's upcoming thriller Glass. At the tail end of his recent hit Split, it was revealed that the film was set in the same universe as Shyamalan's 2000 comic book inspired drama Unbreakable. The crossover film was soon announced, serving as a sequel for both Unbreakable and Split. Fans have been eager to see both films' casts combine, including the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy. Jackson recently revealed how much he enjoyed working on the upcoming film, especially as McAvoy balanced his character's various personalties and even had conversations with himself. As Jackson told it,
As good as I like to think I am or what I do and how I do it, watching somebody transform characters in front of your eyes and have an argument with four different people is pretty amazing.
While Samuel L. Jackson may be a living legend with an Oscar nomination and three Golden Globe noms, there are still moments that humble the 69 year old. James McAvoy's work as a man with dissociative identity disorder just happens to be that kind of moment.
Samuel L. Jackson's comments to Collider make a great deal of sense, especially if you managed to see M. Night Shyamalan's Split. Through the film audiences saw McAvoy play seven or so characters, regularly flipping between the three strongest of Kevin's personalities. The final moments of the film finally saw him engaging in a fascinating onscreen conversation with himself; a final payoff after watching Casey survive her encounter with The Beast.
With characters like Bruce Willis' David Dunn and Samuel L. Jackson's Mr. Glass interacting with Kevin, it would be interesting to see if Kevin's personalities also make their debut. He was teased to share his mind with a whopping 23 identities, so there's a ton of storytelling possibilities that M. Night Shyamalan can experiment with in Glass.
While moveigoers were able to see Kevin's personalities communication in Split, it'll be even more fascinating if other characters like Mr. Glass are also participating in the conversations. Although it would no doubt be a challenge for James McAvoy, it sounds like a great way to explore new facets of Shyamalan's fictional world. We'll just have to wait and see.
Most of Glass' contents are a mystery, although it appears that David Dunn's unbreakable man will be attempting to chase down and apprehend Kevin Wendall Crumb. But where David goes, so does Mr. Glass' evil schemes. Casey from Split will also be present in the narrative, as well as Sarah Paulson as newcomer Dr. Ellie Staple.
Glass will arrive in theaters on January 18, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
