M. Night Shyamalan, famous for his films like The Sixth Sense, Split, and Glass, is now watching his daughter, Ishana Night Shyamalan, follow in his footsteps. Ishana, the 24-year-old middle daughter of the acclaimed director, is making her feature directorial debut with The Watchers, a film that blends horror and fantasy, much like her father’s work.
Ishana Night Shyamalan wrote the script for The Watchers, adapting it from A.M. Shine’s gothic horror novel of the same name. This debut marks her bold entry into the world of filmmaking, demonstrating her talent and passion for storytelling.
Meet Ishana, Daughter of M. Night Shyamalan, Making Directorial Debut
Ishana's journey in directing began with her involvement in the Apple TV+ show Servant, which was executive-produced by M. Night Shyamalan. She graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts in 2021, the same institution where her father studied.
M. Night Shyamalan spoke to Entertainment Weekly about how he convinced Ishana to take a semester off to work on the show. "I’d seen Ishana’s short films and her writing. She was going to NYU’s Tisch School, where I went, and I saw this opportunity," he said. He added that he felt instinctively that certain episodes of Servant were perfect for her, despite her initial worries and humility.
Ishana's first experience directing Servant was just the beginning. In season two, she took on a bigger role as the main writer and director. She also worked as the second unit director on her father's film Old. On The Watchers, M. Night serves as an executive producer, supporting his daughter’s vision.
Ishana spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about working with her father. "It was awesome. It’s such an interesting thing to have a dad-daughter relationship, and there’s so much intensity and care there. But it’s been so wonderful. He’s a very encouraging artist and producer, and he really wants me to do what I want to do and make my mark. So it’s been very healthy and wonderful," she said.
Embracing the Shyamalan Legacy
Ishana acknowledges the legacy her father has built but sees it as a challenge rather than a burden. "There are certain expectations the last name brings. But I love that because it's something for me to knock down. Hopefully, I put my own artistic stamp on what I create," she told The New York Times in 2021.
About The Watchers
The Watchers follows Mina (played by Dakota Fanning), an artist who finds herself held captive in an isolated house in the woods of Ireland with three strangers. They are being observed by mysterious creatures through one-way glass. Ishana shared her excitement for the project saying, "As a reader, I just felt completely compelled and enamoured by the story. My brain was already starting to think about what visuals I wanted to play with and what character work I wanted to play with."
The film is set to be released on June 14.
/shethepeople/media/agency_attachments/2024/11/11/2024-11-11t082606806z-shethepeople-black-logo-2000-x-2000-px-1.png){kind=logo}
/shethepeople/media/member_avatars/4FGyuvwBciC6LndcgpY2.jpeg )
Follow Us/shethepeople/media/media_files/pFtCuLhmQQQLyJDPHD78.png)