Given the massive success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, shared universes are everywhere. While the most common come from DC and Marvel, acclaimed director M. Night Shymalan has retconned one into existence himself. In the final moments of his 2016 hit Split, Bruce Willis returned as Unbreakable's David Dunn, revealing the two films were set in the same world. Shymalan will complete this backdoor trilogy with the upcoming movie Glass, uniting both casts with newcomer Sarah Paulson. It seems like this could be the start of a lengthy franchise, so should we expect more movies from the Unbreakable world? Shyamalan was recently asked just that, saying:
There's no good answer to it. I mean, look, I have two new ideas for movies, so I want to write those. Glass is the only movie I've ever done that's related to another movie I've ever done. So, it's not a habit of mine. I like making up new things, and trying new colors, so that's probably the best answer. Where my sweet spot is, is thinking of a new kind of story each time and trying to make it as best I can, and seeing if it connects with the audience at that time.
While M. Night Shyamalan is obviously eager to share his threequel to the world with Glass, it doesn't seem like he wants to make a habit out of sequels and crossovers. Instead, he'll move on with new movies. That is, until inspiration strikes.
M. Night Shymalan's comments to EW are a bit surprising, considering that cinematic universes have become so commonplace. Every studio is trying to get in on giant franchises, from the DCEU, to Warner Bros.' MonsterVerse, to The Conjuring universe. But rather than putting characters like Kevin and Mr. Glass at odds for a series of films, he's going to keep it simple and make one good blockbuster. At least, for now.
The career of M. Night Shyamalan has been a fascinating one to watch, and his peaks and valleys have both been fairly epic. The Sixth Sense changed the game when it debuted in 1999, and he had a series of hits like Unbreakable and Signs. But there were also a few misses, notably The Happening and The Last Airbender. Split seemed like a welcome return to form for the director/writer, and the final scene was the icing on the cake.
While we shouldn't expect more sequels after Glass, that upcoming movie has a ton of anticipation surrounding it. Set at least partly in a mental facility, we will see Unbreakable's hero and villain duo David Dunn and Mr. Glass (Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson respectively) in treatment alongside Split's Kevin (James McAvoy). The trio of characters will no doubt inevitably break out, with chaos ensuing in the process.
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.
