M. Night Shyamalan meets two Philadelphia 76ers in a bizarre Knock at the Cabin crossover video. Based on the 2018 novel The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul G. Tremblay, Knock at the Cabin is the latest film written and directed by Shyamalan. Universal’s marketing campaign has been in full swing ahead of the movie’s release date in early February, releasing two traditional Knock at the Cabin trailers previewing the full extent of the apocalyptic psychological thriller.
Now, a rather bizarre Knock at the Cabin TV spot (released via Universal) sees Shyamalan teaming up with two Philadelphia 76ers for an unexpected, yet appropriate crossover.
In the video, Shyamalan is playing chess with Sixers star James Harden in a rustic cabin, the same from the movie itself, when their conversation filled with basketball-related puns is interrupted by an ominous knock at the door. The unexpected visitor happens to be Harden’s head coach on the NBA team – Doc Rivers. Watch the video above.
M. Night Shyamalan’s Philadelphia 76ers Connection Explained
Shyamalan, whose most famous films include The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs, grew up in the Philadelphia area and even after becoming a successful filmmaker, that is where he still lives today. In recent years, Shyamalan has become a famous Philadelphia 76ers superfan and, as a season ticket holder, can often be seen sitting court side during home games. He has also received the ceremonial honor of ringing the team’s liberty bell at the Wells Fargo Center before games.
In addition to being a basketball fan, Shyamalan is also known for setting and shooting many of his films in and around the Philadelphia area. This includes his upcoming movie, Knock at the Cabin, which Shyamalan first started shooting this past April. Knock at the Cabin follows a family of three during their vacation at a remote cabin, where they are accosted by strangers. In the movie, none of the strangers are Sixers stars Harden or Rivers, like the bizarre TV spot would have one believe. Exactly why Shyamalan chose to promote Knock at the Cabin this way isn’t clear, but it does make for an amusing ad.
Knock at the Cabin‘s central family is played by Hamilton‘s Jonathan Groff, Pennyworth‘s Ben Aldrige, and Kristen Cui as the couple’s young daughter Wen. The film’s four strangers are played by recognizable actors like Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista, Harry Potter‘s Rupert Grint, Avenue 5‘s Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Abby Quinn; their characters hold the family hostage and demand they sacrifice one of their own in order to prevent the apocalypse. In addition to being a bizarre crossover between Shyamalan’s new film and his 76ers fandom, the new Knock at the Cabin video paints a much more lighthearted picture of the apocalyptic thriller than what the final product is expected to be.
Source: Universal
