Variety is reporting that Academy Award winning writer Stephen Gaghan recently handed in a draft of the screenplay for M. Night Shyamalan’s next film, After Earth. The story and the first drafts of the screenplay were written by Gary Whitta, writer of The Book of Eli. Shyamalan then rewrote the script to add his voice and own perspective to the story. Now we’re learning that Gaghan, acclaimed writer of Traffic and Syriana, was asked to polish the script before it goes to into production in February. Gaghan submitted his revisions to the studio last month, according to Variety, and they say he may continue to tweak and polish the script with Shyamalan in the remaining months before shooting.
The film will star Will and Jaden Smith as a father and son who crash-land on Earth 1,000 years after mankind has deserted the planet. The crash leaves the father injured and immobile, so it becomes up to the son to scour the abandoned planet for help. This will be the first time in Shyamalan’s decade-plus long career where he is directing a film he is not the sole screenplay writer of. After Earth, which may or may not be the final title, is set to release on June 7, 2013. Vote for what you think will be the best title in our Facebook Poll.