M. Night Shyamalan’s Next Movie Just Got a Supernatural Update
Known for crafting the stories behind his signature twist-filled films, M. Night Shyamalan is doing the unprecedented by teaming, for the first time, with another creative, and he couldn’t have chosen a better co-creator. The horror maven is collaborating with New York Times best-selling author Nicholas Sparks to craft the story for a yet untitled project. It’s an unlikely pairing, but given their respective track records, it might just be a match made in movie heaven. The untitled film is described as a supernatural romantic thriller, a genre mashup that plays to the strengths of both Shyamalan and Sparks. Aside from a few casting announcements, the project has largely been shrouded in mystery, but as it begins to gather steam, the plot and character details have been made public.
Shyamalan and Sparks first developed the story into a novel, with the former concurrently crafting the screenplay. According to a new report via PEOPLE, work on the book is now complete, with a publication date scheduled for the fall. The novel, titled “Remain,” centers on an unexpected connection between two strikingly different individuals. Here’s the official synopsis:
“Remain follows New York architect Tate Donovan as he arrives in Cape Cod to design his best friend’s summer home. Donovan is looking for a fresh start after his recent discharge from a psychiatric facility where he was treated for acute depression. Still grappling with the loss of his beloved sister, Donovan meets Wren, a young woman who makes him challenge everything he knows about his logical and controlled world.”
Jake Gyllenhaal and Phoebe Dynevor have previously been announced as the film’s leads. Based on the synopsis, Gyllenhaal will portray Tate Donovan, the grieving architect seeking a fresh start, while thriller staple Dynevor steps into the role of Wren, the enigmatic woman who brings light to his shadowed world. “Collaborating with M. Night Shyamalan has been one of the highlights of my career,” Sparks said in a statement. The bestselling author also shared his excitement about the book’s release with additional details, adding,“We are excited to share the next stage in this process—the beautiful book cover, designed by my longtime cover designer Flamur Tonuzi.”
M. Night Shyamalan and Nicolas Sparks – Two Creative Powerhouses
Sparks is no stranger to seeing his stories come to life on screen. Of the 25 novels he’s written (26 when counting Remain), 11 have been successfully adapted into feature films. Among them are beloved titles like The Notebook, A Walk To Remember, Message in the Bottle, Safe Haven, The Last Song, and Dear John. Shyamalan, meanwhile, is renowned for his mastery of suspense and unexpected twists, with his films collectively grossing over $3.3 billion worldwide. His recent projects, including Old, Knock at the Cabin, and last year’s Trap, have continued his streak of both critical and commercial success.
With their combined pedigree, expectations are sky-high for the Remain adaptation. A release date for the film has yet to be announced, and it’s still unclear whether production has officially begun. As for the novel, it’s set to hit shelves on October 7. Check out the cover above and stay tuned for more updates as this intriguing collaboration unfolds.
Source: PEOPLE
