Gaghan polishes Shyamalan's 'A.E.'

Stephen Gaghan has completed a polish of The new sony Pictures and Overbrook Entertainment's advanced sci-fi pic "One 1000 A.E.," which is directed by M. Evening Shyamalan. Shyamalan was credited because the sole author around the first nine films he directed, but his latest, "A.E.," was scripted by Gary Whitta ("It of Eli"). Shyamalan rewrote the script to suit his needs, but Gaghan was assigned with obtaining the script in shooting shape. He switched his revisions to the studio nearly last month and will continue to use Shyamalan to fine-tune the present draft because the pic's Feb start date draws near. Will and Jaden Cruz are going to star like a father and boy who crash-land on the planet one 1000 years after mankind has abandoned the earth. The crash leaves the elder Cruz badly hurt, and it is as much as the boy to locate assist in what's now an unusual and harmful place. The duo formerly shared the screen in Sony's 2006 drama "The Quest for Happyness." Shyamalan and can Cruz are creating using the latter's Overbrook partners James Lassiter, Ken Stovitz and Jada Pinkett Cruz. Gaghan, who won a best-modified script Oscar for "Traffic," is developing two projects like a director: a WB pic in regards to a Mexican cartel, and Torch Pictures' indie drama in regards to a Snakehead who trafficks in human cargo from China. His last bigscreen project was as author-helmer of Warner Bros.' 2005 drama "Syriana." Gaghan is repped by CAA. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com