Marcos Melendez is an entertainment journalist who has been active since 2017. His past work can be read on Collider, Escapist, ScreenRant, CBR, and Full Circle Cinema. He is currently a News Editor for MovieWeb.
M. Night Shyamalan has his next project lined up, and it’s going to be a treat for fans of an iconic toy from the 1980s. Mattel is teaming up with the director behind Trap for a small screen take on the Magic 8 Ball, the plastic sphere that answers yes or no questions. Of course, the latest Shyamalan will feature his usual eye for the supernatural, while blending the psychological elements from his past work.
The acclaimed filmmaker posted on his Instagram an image of the pilot script for a TV series titled Magic 8 Ball. Although it was reported that a film was being made last year, it seems Mattel has decided to move forward with the upcoming television project. Shyamalan will serve as the director on the series, as well as co-showrunner alongside writer Brad Falchuk (American Horror Story). The show will officially look to “reimagine the classic Magic 8 Ball as the centerpiece of a high-concept, character-driven supernatural drama that blends psychological intensity with cultural intrigue.” You can check out the social media announcement below.
Plot details are non-existent for Magic 8 Ball, but it seems Mattel is going the horror route for the iconic toy. The film reportedly in the works last year was set to be a horror-comedy written by Cocaine Bear‘s Jimmy Warden. While it was not going to be rated R, the project “walks the line a little bit.” It’s unclear if the feature-length project is still in development, but Shyamalan revealed he had been working on the upcoming television adaptation for “a couple of years.” With a pilot script in hand, it seems the series will now move forward, although it is not clear which channel or streamer will pick it up.
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More to come.
