M. Night Shyamalan Jumping Into Scripted TV With Syfy Project (Exclusive)

Getty Images

M. Night Shyamalan and Marti Noxon

Syfy is getting into business with feature filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan.

our editor recommends

Linda Hamilton to Guest on Syfy's 'Lost Girl'

The cable network has given a put-pilot commitment to a project from Shyamalan and Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Marti Noxon titled Proof, marking his first foray into scripted television, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

Shyamalan, who made his mark with The Sixth Sense, would direct the Universal Cable Productions project.

PHOTOS: Summer TV Preview 2012

Proof centers on the son of a billionaire tech genius who, following an accident that claims his parents' lives, offers a large reward for anyone who can find proof of life after death.

Shyamalan and Noxon will co-write the project and serve as EPs. Ashwin Rajan, of Shyamalan's Blinding Edge, also will serve as an exec producer.

Shyamalan's jump to the small screen comes after Syfy renewed Total Blackout and Lost Girl, opted not to move forward with Sanctuary and bid farewell to veteran series Eureka. He also has some history at the network. In 2004, the then-Sci Fi Channel was involved in a controversial "special," The Buried Secret of M. Night Shyamalan, that ended up being a marketing ploy for his film The Village.

PHOTOS: 10 Broadcast and Cable TV Show Most Watched By Men

Shyamalan recently wrapped Sony's After Earth with Will and Jaden Smith. Noxon, who counts Mad Men, Glee and Grey's Anatomy among her TV credits, is penning the adaptation of The Glass Castle for Lionsgate and Gil Netter.

UCP is behind such shows as USA's Psych, Suits and Royal Pains and Syfy's Eureka, Alphas and upcoming Defiance.

E-mail: Philiana.Ng@thr.com