M. Night Shyamalan's daughter, Ishana Night Shyamalan to Direct Dakota Fanning & 'Barbarian' Star Georgina Campbell in 'The Watchers'

by Darian Scalamoni

    M. Night Shyamalan (Knock at the Cabin, The Sixth Sense) has been a notorious director for decades now. He's one with his own distinctive style who loves a twist, but now, his daughter is stepping up the plate to direct a feature of her own.

    Ishana Night Shyamalan will make her directorial debut with the film, The Watchers starring Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds, Man on Fire) and Georgina Campbell (Barbarian, Black Mirror). The Watchers is based on A.M. Shine's novel of the same name that will follow Fanning as an artist named Mina who gets stranded on a remote island in western Ireland. When she eventually finds a place for shelter, she inadvertently gets trapped alongside three strangers who are stalked for prey by mysterious creatures every night. Campbell has been cast as one of the three strangers.

    What's being described as a "supernatural thriller" is eyeing a shoot this Summer in Ireland with a theatrical release planned for June 7, 2024. Her father, M. Night will produce alongside Ashwin Rajan and their Blinding Edge Pictures banner. 

    Fanning most recently played Susan Elizabeth Ford in the Showtime anthology The First Lady. Additionally, she'll star in Netflix's Ripley releasing later this year. Fanning will also reunite with Man on Fire co-star Denzel Washington for The Equalizer 3 which hits theaters on September 1.

    Campbell has gained some attention for her breakout role in Zach Cregger's horror film Barbarian last year. Most recently, Campbell finished filming A ciegas, which acts as a spinoff of one of Netflix's most popular original films to date: Bird Box. That movie will release later this year, with Campbell also having wrapped another horror film, Lovely, Dark, and Deep set to release in 2023 as well.