How a rejected sequel became the final chapter of a grounded superhero trilogy
In short: M. Night Shyamalan spent nearly two decades connecting two disparate films into a single narrative. By securing a unique agreement between Disney and Universal, he merged the worlds of Unbreakable and Split. The result was Glass, a project that challenged the conventions of the modern comic book movie genre.
The journey to Glass began after the 2000 release of Unbreakable. Although lead actor Bruce Willis expressed interest in a trilogy, the studio initially declined to pursue a sequel due to underwhelming box office returns. For years, the concept remained dormant, with Shyamalan and Samuel L. Jackson admitting in 2008 that plans had largely been abandoned. However, the 2016 success of Split changed the trajectory. Shyamalan had originally written the character of Kevin Wendell Crumb for his first film but removed him to maintain narrative balance. By integrating this character into the Unbreakable universe, he finally had the foundation to complete his vision.
To make the crossover possible, Shyamalan navigated complex corporate boundaries. Because Disney owned the rights to the Unbreakable characters and Universal held the rights to Split, the director brokered a gentlemen's agreement with Walt Disney Studios president Sean Bailey. This allowed the characters to coexist in a new film, provided Disney was involved in the production. When Glass arrived in 2019, it was distributed by Universal in North America and Disney internationally. The film was produced on a modest $20 million budget, a hallmark of Shyamalan's self-funded approach to his later career.
The film's reception was polarized. While critics praised the cast's performances, many found the narrative, particularly the final act, to be underwhelming. Despite mixed reviews, the film proved to be a commercial triumph, earning $247 million globally. Beyond the box office, the production was notable for its grounded take on comic book tropes, which Shyamalan described as his attempt to create a truly realistic superhero movie. The project also marked a poignant moment in cinema history, as it was one of the final films featuring Bruce Willis before his retirement due to aphasia, a condition that reportedly impacted his performance during the 2017 shoot.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Glass (2019 film)
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