Editing The Sixth Sense (section)

=== Development ===
David Vogel, then-president of production of [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]], read Shyamalan's spec script and loved it. Without obtaining corporate approval, Vogel bought the rights, despite the price of $3 million and the stipulation that Shyamalan could direct the film.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Weiner|first1=Allison Hope|title=Shyamalan's Hollywood Horror Story, With Twist|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/business/media/02night.html|access-date=December 30, 2014|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 2, 2008|archive-date=December 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230071619/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/business/media/02night.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref> Disney dismissed Vogel from his position at the studio, and Vogel left the company shortly thereafter.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bart|first1=Peter|title=Moguls make switch after power turns off: Is there life after Hollywood?|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/07/02/moguls-make-switch-after-power-turns-off-is-there-life-after-hollywood/|access-date=December 30, 2014|work=Variety|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=July 2, 2012|archive-date=December 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230080905/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-07-02/entertainment/sns-201207020800reedbusivarietynvr1118056154-20120702_1_power-players-dick-cook-david-vogel|url-status=live}}</ref> Disney sold the production rights to [[Spyglass Entertainment]], while retaining the distribution rights and 12.5% of the film's box office takings.<ref>{{cite book|last=Stewart |first=James B. |year=2005 |title=DisneyWar: The Battle for the Magic Kingdom |location=New York |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |isbn=978-0743263818}}</ref>

During the casting process for the role of Cole Sear, Shyamalan had been apprehensive about Osment's video audition, saying later he was "this really sweet cherub, kind of beautiful, blond boy". Shyamalan saw the role as darker and more brooding but felt that Osment "nailed it with the vulnerability and the need&nbsp;... He was able to convey a need as a human being in a way that was amazing to see."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/i-wasnt-bluffing-m-night-shyamalan-recalls-sixth-sense-pitch-frenzy-followed-1228534|title="I Wasn't Bluffing": M. Night Shyamalan Recalls 'Sixth Sense' Pitch and Frenzy That Followed|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 2, 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-08-06|archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804011526/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/i-wasnt-bluffing-m-night-shyamalan-recalls-sixth-sense-pitch-frenzy-followed-1228534|url-status=live}}</ref>

Willis was cast in the role of Malcolm Crowe as part of a deal to compensate the studio for Willis's role in the implosion of ''[[Broadway Brawler]]'' the year before.<ref>{{cite web
 | url =https://www.filmstories.co.uk/features/the-three-films-that-bruce-willis-was-cornered-into-having-to-make/
 | title =The three films that Bruce Willis was cornered into having to make
 | last =Brew
 | first =Simon
 | date =2020-02-24
 | website =Film Stories
 | publisher =
 | access-date =2021-09-27
}}</ref><ref name="deadline">{{cite web
 | url =https://deadline.com/2010/10/joe-roth-makes-second-spec-score-with-bruce-willis-drama-ten-72183/
 | title =Bruce Willis In Drama Deal For Pal Joe Roth
 | last =Fleming
 | first =Mike Jr.
 | date =2010-10-05
 | website =Deadline
 | publisher =
 | access-date =2021-09-27
 | quote = }}</ref>

[[Marisa Tomei]] was considered for the role of Lynn Sear.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Cormier|first=Roger|title=15 Twisted Facts About ''The Sixth Sense''|date=6 August 2016|magazine=[[Mental Floss]]|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/66913/17-straightforward-facts-about-sixth-sense|access-date=10 November 2017|archive-date=January 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122094554/http://mentalfloss.com/article/66913/17-straightforward-facts-about-sixth-sense|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Michael Cera]] auditioned for the role of Cole Sear,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/interviews/a5953/michael-cera-quotes-0709/ |title=Michael Cera: What I've Learned |last=Jones |first=Chris |work=Esquire |date=June 18, 2019 |access-date=July 26, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=January 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107073154/http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/interviews/a5953/michael-cera-quotes-0709/ }}</ref> and [[Liam Aiken]] was offered the role but turned it down.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/movies/features/10595/ |title=Unfortunate Son |work=New York Magazine |last=Hill |first=Logan |date=December 2, 2004 |access-date=July 26, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=June 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627165902/https://nymag.com/nymetro/movies/features/10595/ }}</ref>