Universal Pictures and Disney arm Buena Vista International are teaming for Glass, M. Night Shyamalan’s latest thriller, which began production Monday.
The project marks a rare collaboration between the two studios as both have a material stake in the new movie.
Glass is the sequel to Unbreakable, which starred Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson, and was released by Disney’s Touchstone label. But it is also a follow-up to Split, Shyamalan’s surprise hit from earlier this year that starred James McAvoy and was released by Universal.
Shyamalan received permission from Disney to insert Willis’ character in Split for a surprise cameo. The cameo proved to be so popular that it whetted an appetite for the long-rumored sequel to the filmmaker’s 2000 hit.
Talks followed and now Universal is releasing Glass domestically while BVI will release the film internationally.
To celebrate day one of production, the director shared a photo of the slate.
For Glass, Willis returns as David Dunn, as does Jackson as Elijah Price, known also by his pseudonym Mr. Glass. Joining from Split are McAvoy, reprising his role as the multi-personalitied Kevin Wendell Crumb, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Casey Cooke, the only captive to survive an encounter with The Beast.
Shyamalan and Blumhouse Productions’ Jason Blum are producing the pic, as are Ashwin Rajan and Marc Bienstock.
