M. Night Shyamalan bringing "Proof" to Syfy

[Sawyer]

THR:

M. Night Shyamalan Jumping Into Scripted TV With Syfy Project (Exclusive)
UPDATED: Marti Noxon is also attached to produce, with Shyamalan possibly directing.
5:15 PM PDT 8/2/2012 by Philiana Ng

Syfy is getting into business with feature filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan.

The cable network has given a put-pilot commitment to a project from Shyamalan and Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Marti Noxon titled Proof, marking his first foray into scripted television, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

Shyamalan, who made his mark with The Sixth Sense, would direct the Universal Cable Productions project.

Proof centers on the son of a billionaire tech genius who offers a large reward for anyone who can find proof of life after death following the tragic accident and sudden passing of his parents.

Shyamalan and Noxon will co-write the project and serve as EPs. Ashwin Rajan, of Shyamalan's Blinding Eagle, will also serve as an exec producer.

Shyamalan's jump to the small screen comes after Syfy renewed Total Blackout and Lost Girl, opted not to move forward with Sanctuary and bid farewell to long-time series Eureka. He also has some history at the network. In 2004, the then-called Sci Fi Channel was involved in a controversial "special," The Buried Secret of M. Night Shyamalan, that ended up being a marketing ploy for The Village.

Shyamalan recently wrapped Sony's After Earth with Will and Jaden Smith. Noxon, who counts Mad Men, Glee and Grey's Anatomy, as some of her other TV credits, is penning The Glass Castle adaptation for Lionsgate and Gil Netter.

UCP is behind shows like USA's Psych, Suits and Royal Pains, and Syfy's upcoming Defiance, Eureka and Alphas.

Definitely intrigued. His record on film has been fairly shabby over the last few years, but this idea actually sounds like it has potential. Throw in a former Buffy writer, and I'll certainly give it a look.

 

[The Question]

Huh. The premise sounds kind of silly, but then again that does sound like something a grieving person could plausibly do.

In any event, there's definitely potential if the show doesn't take too long to get into the supernatural horror stuff. And of course if the show delves into supernatural horror stuff.

If it stays totally real world with it, while the premise clearly has potential, it would make a better movie or MAYBE mini series than a full TV series.