M Night Shyamalan

Will Smith Talks MEN IN BLACK 3, M. Night Shyamalan’s AFTER EARTH, His Love of STAR WARS and Future Projects

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: May 22nd, 2012 at 5:42 pm

Opening this weekend is the third film in the Men in Black franchise.  Barry Sonnenfeld returns as director and the story finds Will Smith’s Agent J travelling back in time to save Tommy Lee Jones’ Agent K.  In addition to Bill Hader as Andy Warhol, Josh Brolin plays a younger version of Jones’ character and does an incredible job.  You’ll absolutely think you’re watching Jones as a young man.  Men in Black 3 also stars Jemaine Clement, Alice Eve, and Emma Thompson.  In addition, make-up effects artist Rick Baker returns to the franchise and you can see some of his creature work here.  For more on the film, here’s all our previous coverage.

Last week I got to speak with most of the cast and every day this week I’ll be posting a new interview.  Yesterday was Tommy Lee Jones and today I’ve got Will Smith.  During the interview we talked about when he knew they could make another Men in Black, the impact Star Wars had on him as a kid, how many takes he likes to do, and more.  In addition, we talked about future projects like M. Night Shyamalan‘s After Earth, and I tried to get updates on Independence Day 2, Bad Boys 3, I Am Legend 2 and Hancock 2.   Hit the jump to watch.

New Image of Jaden Smith in M. Night Shyamalan’s AFTER EARTH

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 15th, 2012 at 7:34 am

Last week, we showed you some photos from the set of M. Night Shyamalan‘s sci-fi film, After Earth.  The movie stars Jaden Smith as a young boy navigating “an abandoned and sometimes scary Earth to save himself and his estranged father (played by Will Smith) after their ship crashes.”  Smith the Younger has now posted a picture of himself in full costume, and while I’m not crazy about the costume design, it does reinforce the notion that Jaden will probably be as big a movie star as his father.  He’s got the look and The Karate Kid showed he had the talent.  Unfortunately, After Earth is an M. Night Shyamalan movie so none of that really matters.  His movies could suck the warmth out of sunshine.

Hit the jump to check out the image.  The film also stars Zoe Kravitz, Sophie Okonedo, and Isabelle Fuhrman.  After Earth opens June 7th, 2013.

Set Photos from M. Night Shyamalan’s AFTER EARTH Starring Will Smith

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 8th, 2012 at 2:03 pm

Production is currently underway on M. Night Shyamalan’s new sci-fi project After Earth, and the director and star Will Smith have been sharing a few photos from the set with fans eager to see how Shyamalan will ruin yet another movie. The good news is that Shyamalan got help on the script from Gary Whitta (The Book of Eli) and Stephen Gaghan (Traffic), so hopefully the story is being reigned in. Previously titled 1000 A.E., the film is set 1000 years in the future and centers on a young boy navigating “an abandoned and sometimes scary Earth to save himself and his estranged father after their ship crashes.” Smith stars alongside his son Jaden Smith, who toplined the recent Karate Kid remake. The premise is interesting enough and the inclusion of Gaghan gives me hope that maybe After Earth will serve as a much-needed comeback for the Signs director.

The photos don’t show anyone in costume, but we do get a look at the Smiths and Shyamalan on the gorgeous Costa Rica set. Shyamalan reveals through comments on the photos that this is the first film he’s shooting digitally and he’s using the Sony F65. Hit the jump to check out the photos. The film also stars Zoe Kravitz, Sophie Okonedo, and Isabelle Fuhrman. After Earth opens June 7th, 2013.

THE HUNGER GAMES’ Isabelle Furhman to Join Will Smith in AFTER EARTH

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: January 11th, 2012 at 3:17 pm

How’s this for a career track? At the age of 12, Isabelle Fuhrman got the attention of critics for her portrayal of a deranged woman with hypopituitarism in Orphan, and more recently landed a spot in Gary Ross’s upcoming The Hunger Games as Clove, a knife-wielding “contestant” that is sure to share screen time with Jennifer Lawrence. Now, it’s being reported that Fuhrman is in talks to star opposite Jaden Smith in M. Night Shyamalan’s After Earth, which also stars none other than Will Smith himself. The sci-fi epic, previously titled 1000 A.E., is set in a future where humans can no longer survive on the inhospitable Earth. While the elder Smith is playing the part of a warrior, his son has inherited the role of “failure.” But that all gets turned around when a crash landing forces the son to save the father. Fuhrman is expected to play Rayna, a friend of Jaden Smith’s character. Hit the jump for more on Fuhrman, The Hunger Games and After Earth.

Zoe Kravitz and Sophie Okonedo May Join Will and Jaden Smith in Shyamalan’s 1000 A.E

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: December 5th, 2011 at 6:29 pm

Earlier this year, we reported that Will Smith and his son, Jaden Smith would be co-starring in director M. Night Shyamalan’s new sci-fi project, 1000 A. E. Now, Zoe Kravitz (X-Men: First Class) and Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda) are in early talks to join the picture as well.  Depending on whether or not the deals are worked out, Kravitz would play Smith’s daughter and Okonedo would play his wife (take that, Willow and Jada).

The plot of 1000 A. E. is “set 1,000 years into the future, where a young boy navigates an abandoned and sometimes scary Earth to save himself and his estranged father after their ship crashes.”  The script was co-written by Gary Whitta (The Book of Eli), Stephen Gaghan (Traffic) and, you guessed it, Shyamalan himself.  1000 A.E. is schedule to hit theaters on June 7^th, 2013.  Hit the jump for more.

SYRIANA Scribe Stephen Gaghan Has Finished a Polish of M. Night Shyamalan’s ONE THOUSAND A.E.

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 10th, 2011 at 5:16 pm

Despite the fact that his past few scripted projects were undeniably terrible (like really, truly terrible), writer-director M. Night Shyamalan is still making movies. His latest is a sci-fi pic called One Thousand A.E. starring none other than Will Smith and his karate-kicking son Jaden. The film centers on a father-son duo who crash-land on Earth one thousand years after humans have abandoned the planet. With his father seriously injured, the young boy must set out to find help on the now strange and harsh planet. The project was initially scripted by Gary Whitta (The Book of Eli), but since Shyamalan is so good at making movies he decided to take a crack at the script himself to tailor it to his own interest (ie. terribleness).

However, Variety now reports that Academy Award-winning screenwriter Stephen Gaghan (Traffic) has completed a polish of Shyamalan’s draft. The Syriana writer-director was tasked with getting the script into shooting shape, and may continue to work with Shyamalan to fine-tune his draft up until production begins. While I still have little faith in the project, Gaghan’s a fine writer and his input certainly can’t hurt. The scribe recently set up two new films, a cartel drama and an adaptation of Snakehead. Production on One Thousand A.E. begins in February, with a February 24th, 2012 release date.

Will Smith’s 1000 A.E. Scheduled for June 7, 2013; WANDERLUST Pushed Back to February 24, 2012

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: September 7th, 2011 at 7:38 pm

Three years have passed since Will Smith’s last movie, Seven Pounds, but he’s still the biggest star in Hollywood.  High demand has led to Smith being linked to an uncountable set of projects for his follow-up to Men in Black III.  One of the standouts is 1000 A.E. (may be a working title), the proposed sci-fi project that unites Smith, his son Jaden Smith, and M. Night Shyamalan.  That combination: Smith, Smith, Night—it feels so made up.  I was not prepared for 1000 A.E. to rise to the top of Smith’s to-do list.  Yet  Columbia has committed to a June 7, 2013 release date, meaning there’s about a 95% chance this will make it to theaters.  It’s hard to trust Shyamalan, but I can’t help but be drawn in by the big sci-fi tentpole with the world’s biggest movie star.  The premise: “Set 1,000 years into the future, a young boy navigates an abandoned and sometimes scary Earth to save himself and his estranged father after their ship crashes.”  I’m encouraged that Gary Whitta, who penned the sharp The Book of Eli, co-wrote the screenplay.  Problem is he co-wrote it with (sigh) Shyamalan.  Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

Details on the new release date for Wanderlust after the jump.

Christopher Nolan, Jon Favreau, and More Sign up to Combat Premium VOD Service

by Ben Garman    Posted: June 1st, 2011 at 10:59 am

Chris Nolan and Jon Favreau add their voices to April’s open letter appeal by The National Association of Theater Owners protesting to DirecTV’s new Premium VOD service, Home Premiere. Home Premiere is a video-on-demand service backed by four major studios, Fox, Universal, Warner Bros., and Sony, which provides audiences with the opportunity to rent a new film two months after release, for the price of $29.95. According to THR, the Batman Begins and Iron Man directors are two of the latest signatories to oppose the service among a group of high profile talent including Quentin Tarantino, M. Night Shyamalan and David Dobkin, plus screenwriter Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker) and former president of Warner Home Video, Jim Cardwell.

Hit the jump for more on this controversy.

Jaden Smith Joins Will Smith in M. Night Shyamalan’s Untitled Sci-Fi Project

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 4th, 2011 at 12:21 pm

The Smith household has apparently not received the memo that M. Night Shyamalan should not be writing or directing movies.  Back in October, we reported that Will Smith had signed on to star in Shyamalan’s sci-fi project One Thousand A.E. and that Smith’s son Jaden may co-star.  We have now received a press release announcing that the film has lost its title but gained a tiny Smith.

The script (written by Shyamalan and Gary Whitta) is set 1,000 years in the future and has a young boy (Jaden) navigating an abandoned and sometimes scary Earth to save himself and his estranged father (Will) after their ship crashes.  Apparently the Smith family wants to test how strong their charisma can carry a film over inert directing and awful screenwriting.  Hit the jump for the press release.

The Razzie Awards Names THE LAST AIRBENDER the Worst Film of 2010

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: February 27th, 2011 at 1:18 pm

The 2011 Razzie Awards were announced last night, and voters mostly just want you to know how much they hated The Last Airbender and Sex and the City 2.  The Last Airbender took home Worst Picture, Worst 3D, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, and helped earn Jackson Rathbone Worst Supporting Actor along with The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.  Meanwhile, the ladies of Sex and the City won both Worst Actress and Worst Screen Ensemble; the film itself was deemed Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel.  Hit the jump for the full list of winners.

DEVIL DVD Review

by Jeff Ames    Posted: January 3rd, 2011 at 8:00 am

Poor M. Night Shyamalan. After the one-two-three punch that was The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs, the young auteur, once branded the “next Spielberg” by Time Magazine, has endured a painfully long streak of bad-to-terrible films – namely The Village, Lady in the Water, The Happening and The Last Airbender. With the release of Devil he now must face a hard truth – that his best film in years is the one he did not write or direct.

Those duties belong to John Erick Dowdle, the imaginative brain behind 2008’s contrived, but freakishly thrilling Quarantine. Dowdle swoops in and, with the help of screenwriter Brian Nelson – who penned the delicious vampire fest 30 Days of Night and the equally tasty Hard Candy – molds Shyamalan’s basic premise into a 75-minute thriller that never lets up. The swift running time ensures a slick experience – like an extended Twilight Zone episode, Devil cuts through the BS and arrives at its purpose directly. You don’t have time to laugh at the proceedings – you’re too busy racing the film to its dramatic conclusion.

THE LAST AIRBENDER Blu-ray Review

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: November 25th, 2010 at 8:29 am

Oh, M. Night Shyamalan. You made The Sixth Sense, and the world was ready to declare you the new Spielberg, the new Hitchcock. And your follow ups had fans. Unbreakable, Signs. People liked these movies, but they didn’t have that Barton Fink feeling. But the next three films (The Village, The Lady in the Water and The Happening) kept getting worse and worse, with star Mark Wahlberg recently decrying The Happening as terrible. But with The Last Airbender writer/director M. Night was finally adapting material, which (one hoped) might get his head back in the game. Based on the Nickelodeon cartoon, there was a great story there and there was hope he might rebound. Noah Ringer stars as Aang, a mythical trained “bender” who can fight using air, water, fire and earth, and is called the last Avatar. He’s joined by water bender Katara (Nicola Peltz) and her brother Sokka (Jackson Rathbone) in protecting him from an evil Fire Lord army (which features Dev Patel, Cliss Curtis and Aasif Mandvi) that are bent on world domination. And my review of M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender on Blu-ray follows after the jump.

Mark Wahlberg Disses THE HAPPENING, Admits it was a “Bad Movie”

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 21st, 2010 at 4:13 pm

At the press conference yesterday for Mark Wahlberg’s upcoming Oscar contender The Fighter, the star let his thoughts on M. Night Shyamalan’s disaster movie (get it?) The Happening be known, and thankfully we can now rest assured that he is, in fact, sane and does understand how terrible the film really was. In discussing meeting with his Fighter co-star Amy Adams previously, Wahlberg said:

We had actually had the luxury of having lunch before to talk about another movie and it was a bad movie that I did. She dodged the bullet. And then I was still able to … I don’t want to tell you what movie … alright “The Happening.” Fuck it. It is what it is. Fucking trees, man. The plants. Fuck it. You can’t blame me for not wanting to try to play a science teacher. At least I wasn’t playing a cop or a crook.

It’s refreshing to see an actor in Hollywood man-up and actually tell the truth for once. As I was watching The Happening, I remember sitting there and having an argument in my head as to whether they were actually playing it straight or if the flick was supposed to be cheesy. I kept thinking, there’s no way that Shyamalan believes that this is good. Absolutely no way. And then The Last Airbender opened…

M. Night Shyamalan Teams Will Smith on Sci-Fi Flick ONE THOUSAND A.E.; Jaden Smith May Star

by Jeff Ames    Posted: October 20th, 2010 at 8:24 pm

Writer/director M. Night Shyamalan may team up with Will Smith on his next movie venture. According to recent reports, the secretive director is collaborating with Smith’s Overbrook production company on a science fiction film titled One Thousand A.E. While nothing is concrete at the moment, Heat Vision states that the project is being developed as a starring vehicle for Smith’s son Jaden, last seen in The Karate Kid remake earlier this year. No word on whether Big Willie will figure in the film — suffice to say the last time he and Jaden teamed up, they created a little masterpiece entitled The Pursuit of Happyness.

However, the best part about this breaking news is that Shyamalan will not write the script! I repeat: he will not write the script! That job will instead fall on Gary Whitta (The Book of Eli), meaning Shyamalan will stick to what he does best: directing.  Sony will likely produce A.E., though that too is merely speculation. Hit the jump for more mind bending twists.

Friday Box Office – Ben Affleck’s THE TOWN Has a Big $8.3 Million Debut

by Nicole Pedersen    Posted: September 18th, 2010 at 10:40 am

With a string of recent dramas – both good and bad – underperforming at 2010’s box office, you can color me happily surprised to find Warner Brother’s The Town easily topping Friday’s box office estimates. Ben Affleck’s second feature film as director matched great reviews with a tireless promotion schedule and took in an estimated $8.3 million from its 2,861 locations. Already well above projections, The Town is now on track to make $25 million by Sunday. Meanwhile, the two films that were supposed to battle for number one – Sony’s Easy A and Universal’s Devil – came up a little short despite their demo-skewing PG-13 pedigrees. Easy A brought in an estimated $6.8 million while Devil seems to have inspired only limited devotion at number three with $4.9 million. In hindsight, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to place producer M Night Shyamalan’s name so prominently in the film’s advertising? Lionsgate’s low budget, animated Alpha & Omega closes out Friday’s top five with $2.3 million. Details and the weekend’s top ten back here tomorrow.

	Title	Friday	Total
1	The Town	$8,380,000	$8.3
2	Easy A	$6,800,000	$6.8
3	Devil	$4,930,000	$4.9
4	Resident Evil 3D	$3,000,000	$36.8
5	Alpha & Omega	$2,300,000	$2.3

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