Right now, there are no guarantees.
"A trilogy, that's the intention, and the hope, but it has to do well. So we have to wait and see. I have to get the call that says, go ahead and do it," said Shyamalan.
He's waiting anxiously, because he also has one of his famous Shyamalan-ish thrillers in the works - he's been shopping another hot script around Hollywood, with the usual air of secrecy and showmanship (his personal assistant witnesses each reading, and retrieves the script immediately). Bradley Cooper, Bruce Willis and Gwyneth Paltrow have expressed interest, although Cooper is probably out.
" 'Hangover 2,' " lamented Shyamalan. "I don't think Bradley can do it because of that."
Cooper is from Abington, Willis from South Jersey and Paltrow has extended family ties to the area. Is the Chesco-based Shyamalan up to something?
"It does sound like regional theater. But that's all coincidence. Bradley is a Philly boy, we see each other a lot, and we've become friends, and obviously I've worked with Bruce a lot. But Gwyneth, she's just a great actress, that's why I'd be interested."
His ideal scenario would be to sandwich a thriller between each of the "Airbender" sequels, but nothing can be scheduled until the "Airbender" drama plays itself out.
"Right now, to be honest, I'm just really tired. I'm excited to see how the movie does, but it's been a huge project, and I'm really tired," he said.
The movie was tough to make (shot in part in Greenland), and has been tough to promote. Shyamalan admits to feeling blindsided by some of the criticism that's come his way from Asians, who see the lead character in "Airbender" (based on a Nickelodeon anime-influenced cartoon) as Asian and object to the casting of Texan Noah Ringer.
