M. Night Shyamalan contemplates Unbreakable 2

13 October 2008

John Howell

Looks like a sequel to M. Night Shyamalan's excellent superhero comic book movie, Unbreakable , staring Bruce Willis and Samual L. Jackson could still happen.

"I tell you I get asked about it all the time," Shyamalan recently told MTV, "...I’ve still been thinking about it a lot and wonder if it’s too late."

Unbreakable tells the story of the literally unbreakable David Dunn (Willis) and the fragile comic book collector Elijah Price (Jackson) who recognises Dunn's powers. The movie received mixed critical reactions when it was released, but was still a major hit. I think it was far superior to his earlier movie The Sixth Sense, which of all Shyamalan's creations was the biggest commercial success.

Over time Shyamalan has had endless positive feedback from his fans about Unbreakable, which he says has kept the idea of a sequel at the top of his mind.

Scifi Wire quotes Shyamalan:

"Over the years, it just grew and grew and grew, and people were like, 'You know, I really like that. That's actually my favourite movie, and I watch that all the time,' and on and on. I'll be on the street, and some kid will run across traffic with it in his backpack--he just is carrying it in his backpack--and he'll be running [saying], 'I can't believe it's you!' Will you sign my Unbreakable DVD?' And quoting the thing and all that stuff."

"I want to write it right now," he said "but I want to write it for the right reasons. I want a story to pop into my head that is organic and expressive of who I am. You know, these are all kind of journals of where I am emotionally, so it's kind of hard. I'm kind of trying to go back to the journal that existed in 1999 for me. But I know me: As soon as I give up on it is when the idea will come to me. It's just I need to go into therapy; I guess that's the end of that answer to this."

According to film.com Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson have been talking about Unbreakable 2 for years. Both have always said that Unbreakable was originally meant to be a trilogy.

After the disastrous movie experience that was The Happening, and the decidedly mediocre The Lady in the Water, I would be the first in line for a ticket to Unbreakable 2. If you happen to come across M. Night Shyamalan in your travels, be sure to bug him about the movie. Given his reaction to the positive feedback so far, perhaps all he needs is a bit more of a push.