How’s this for a shocking twist? M. Night Shyamalan has partnered with Mattel Studios to produce a Magic 8 Ball TV show. In a post on Instagram, the director shared a picture of the cover page for a pilot script written by Brad Falchuk with the caption, “Been working on this for a couple years… Who’s in?”
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According to Deadline, Shyamalan will direct and co-showrun alongside writer and co-creator Brad Falchuk.
A Series from Shyamalan
Shyamalan, best known for writing and directing suspense films like The Sixth Sense, Signs, and last year’s Trap, has been quietly expanding into television for some time. In 2015 he was an executive producer on the short-lived Wayward Pines for Fox. Then from 2019 to 2023 he served as executive producer on Apple TV+’s psychological horror series Servant, of which he directed five episodes.
Magic 8 Ball, however, marks the first time since The Last Airbender movie that he’s directed anything from an already established IP. This time, however, Shyamalan isn’t also handling writing duties. Instead, Magic 8 Ball is being written by Emmy-winner Falchuk, who co-created massive TV hits like Glee and American Horror Story.
A Magic 8 Ball answers a question – YouTube, Great Big Strory
A press release from Mattel says, “Together, they aim 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.” They add that the Magic 8 Ball’s “combination of playful charm and enigmatic mystique makes it a uniquely fertile ground for reinvention in premium storytelling.”
According to Variety, it’s unclear who might distribute the Magic 8 Ball show or if any talent has signed on yet. While a TV series centered around a toy without a main character may seem like a questionable prospect, having Shyamalan and Falchuk attached will draw attention. And as the entertainment industry is looking for fresh IPs, toys are having a moment.
Mattel’s Next Move
The massive critical and financial success of Barbie, also owned by Mattel, proved that comic books and video games aren’t the only IPs that can draw an audience. More toy and game-based projects from Mattel are in the works, with the Shyamalan Magic 8 Ball series just the latest in a long list.
Margot Robbie as Stereotypical Barbie in Barbie (2023), Warner Bros. Pictures
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At MIPCOM (an annual television industry trade show held in Cannes, France), the president of Mattel Studios, Robbie Brenner, talked with The Hollywood Reporter about everything they have in the pipeline. Moviegoers can expect to see Polly Pocket, Masters of the Universe, Hot Wheels, and Matchbox movies, among others, over the next few years.
Though she couldn’t say anything about Magic 8 Ball or the direction the story will take, as one would expect Brenner had nothing but praise for Shyamalan and Falchuk. Of Shyamalan she said, “I don’t think he ever gets involved with anything that he doesn’t feel really passionate about,” adding that Falchuk was “such a big get.”
A series of Magic 8 Balls – YouTube, Great Big Story
Even though the Magic 8 Ball jokes practically write themselves for this show, Brenner is taking things seriously. “Everything is not going to be Barbie, but at the same time, we mean business. We want to tell great stories,” she said. With established storytellers like Shyamalan and Falchuk on board for a Magic 8 Ball TV show, it might be worth a shake.
What do you think? Is a good Magic 8 Ball TV show from Shyamalan “Very Doubtful,” or do you think “Signs Point to Yes”? Sound off in the comments!
“shocking twist?” – Why? That hack director did nothing after Sixth Sense. Which leads me to believe that he got a lot of external help with Sixth Sense, and took all the credit.