Movie Name: Split (2017)
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Produced by M. Night Shyamalan, Jason Blum, Marc Bienstock
Written by M. Night Shyamalan
Star Cast: James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley
Music by West Dylan Thordson
Genre: Drama-Thriller
Release Date: 26 September 2016 (Fantastic Fest), 20 January 2017 (USA)
Running Time: 117 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Split 2017 Official Trailer:
Story: Split is a 2016 American psychological horror thriller film directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan. The film stars James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy and Betty Buckley. The film has been described as a thematic sequel to the 2000 film Unbreakable. Principal photography began on November 11, 2015, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Plot
After a wholesome teen birthday party, three girls are kidnapped in broad daylight: friends Claire (Haley Lu Richardson) and Marcia (Jessica Sula), and difficult outsider Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy). Their captor (James McAvoy) locks the trio in a windowless room, then proceeds to frighten and baffle them. One minute he's wearing eyeglasses and obsessive about cleanliness, the next he's presenting as female, and later he acts like a nine-year-old boy.
Production
On August 26, 2015, it was announced that M. Night Shyamalan would next direct a thriller film based on his own script, which would star Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role. Shyamalan would also produce the film along with Jason Blum and Marc Bienstock. On October 2, 2015, James McAvoy was cast in the film to play the lead, replacing Phoenix. On October 12, 2015, Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley, Jessica Sula, and Haley Lu Richardson were added to the cast. On October 27, 2015, Universal Pictures came on board to release the film and titled it as Split.
Principal photography on the film began on November 11, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Reshoots occurred in June 2016. Split is Shyamalan's longest movie to date.
Release
Split had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest on September 26, 2016. It also screened at the AFI Fest on November 15, 2016.
The film is scheduled to be released on January 20, 2017 in United States and Canada.