M. Night Shyamalan is now officially a franchise. The first of his Night Chronicles (three films to be released over three years, based on Shyamalan stories but directed by others) will be Devil, directed by Drew and John Erick Dowdle (who made Quarantine), and starring Chris Messina (out of Vicky Christina Barcelona and Away We Go).
Shyamalan is producing and is credited with the story, but the actual screenplay has been bashed out by 30 Days of Night's Brian Nelson. Plot details are securely under wraps.
Is this the beginning of Shyamalan positioning himself as an Alfred Hitchcock-style brand-name? Will we soon see M. Night Shyamalan Presents on our TV screens, and a series of ghostwritten Shyamalan children's mystery novels on our bookshelves? Only time will tell.