M. Night Shyamalan and Nicholas Sparks are working together on a new project called Remain, which will include both a novel and a movie release. The novel will be available in bookstores and online, including Amazon, on October 7, 2025. The movie does not have a release date yet.
This partnership is a unique blending of two of the all-time greats in their fields so it has everyone excited. M. Night is a master of bringing supernatural elements to the big screen and Nicholas Sparks is known as the king of romance writing – so we expect an outcome that highlights the strengths of both creators.
If you enjoy stories that mix life’s mysteries with love, you will definitely be interested in this one.
A Genre-Bending Collaboration That No One Saw Coming
The idea of M. Night Shyamalan—the king of cinematic twists—joining forces with Nicholas Sparks, the master of emotional romance, might sound like a creative paradox. But their upcoming project Remain proves otherwise. Announced as both a novel and a film, Remain aims to blend psychological tension with heartfelt drama, crafting a story that’s as emotionally grounded as it is otherworldly.
The Plot: Love, Loss, and the Unseen
At the center of Remain is Tate Donovan, a New York architect struggling to rebuild his life after a stint in a psychiatric facility. He relocates to Cape Cod to design a home for a close friend, hoping the quiet will help him start fresh. But instead of solitude, he finds Wren—a woman unlike anyone he’s met. She’s enigmatic, deeply intuitive, and hiding something that draws Tate into a mystery far bigger than he imagined.
The narrative plays with dualities: mental health versus the supernatural, reality versus perception, and logic versus faith. As their relationship deepens, Tate begins to question what’s truly real—and whether some connections are strong enough to transcend time and even death. The story tackles grief, second chances, and the ways in which the past can haunt—or heal—the present.
A Simultaneous Novel and Film Release
Remain isn’t just a book. While Nicholas Sparks is handling the prose, Shyamalan is directing the film adaptation himself, with production already underway. The movie version will star Jake Gyllenhaal as Tate and Phoebe Dynevor as Wren. Their pairing suggests a film that leans into emotional complexity, with Gyllenhaal known for playing psychologically layered roles and Dynevor bringing subtlety and intensity to her performances.
The book is slated for release in October 2025, with the film expected to follow soon after. Releasing both versions in such close proximity is a deliberate move—it allows the story to reach multiple audiences and invites comparisons between the written and visual interpretations.
What Makes Remain Different
What sets Remain apart is how it fuses the trademark styles of both creators. Sparks brings the emotional arc—loss, longing, and transformation—while Shyamalan contributes a haunting undercurrent that suggests not everything is as it seems. Early descriptions of the project point to themes of liminality: characters caught between life and death, love and isolation, presence and absence.
Rather than settling into the conventions of a single genre, Remain actively breaks them. It’s a love story with a pulse of dread. A thriller that aches with vulnerability. And a supernatural mystery that dares to ask what it really means to let go—or hold on.
Industry Reactions and Fan Expectations
Industry insiders have described the project as “ambitious” and “unexpected,” and the early buzz has only fueled speculation. Will Remain mark a tonal shift for both creators? Can Sparks fans handle a ghost story? Will Shyamalan fans embrace a romance with fewer jump scares and more tears?
The film’s production team includes Shyamalan’s long-time collaborators and Nicholas Sparks’ trusted publishing partners, suggesting a unified vision. And with a lead actor like Gyllenhaal at the helm, the project already carries serious award-season potential.
The Bottom Line
Remain is shaping up to be one of 2025’s most talked-about cross-media experiments. It’s not just a story—it’s an emotional experience designed to pull you in, twist your assumptions, and leave you thinking long after it ends. Whether you’re reading it, watching it, or both, one thing is clear: this collaboration is more than just a headline—it’s a bold step into new storytelling territory.
What We Know
Here’s what we know so far:
- Collaboration: The collaboration is unique in that it will result in both a movie directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan and a novel written by Nicholas Sparks. Both the movie and the novel will be based on the same original story and characters but tailored for their respective mediums.
- Title: The title of both the movie and the novel is “Remain.”
- Plot: The story is described as a supernatural romantic thriller. It follows Tate Donovan, a New York architect who arrives in Cape Cod to design his best friend’s summer home. He is recovering from acute depression after being discharged from a psychiatric facility and is also grappling with the recent loss of his sister, who had claimed she could see spirits. In Cape Cod, Tate meets Wren, a young woman who challenges his logical worldview. They form a deep connection, but Tate discovers that Wren’s seemingly idyllic small-town life hides dark secrets that threaten their relationship. He must uncover the truth about her past to save her.
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal is attached to star as Tate Donovan, and Phoebe Dynevor is expected to play Wren in the movie.
- Release: The novel “Remain,” written by Nicholas Sparks, is scheduled to be released on October 7, 2025, by Random House. The release date for the film is yet to be announced but is expected to follow the book release.
- Production: M. Night Shyamalan’s production company, Blinding Edge Pictures, is producing the film.
This collaboration between a master of suspense and a beloved romance novelist is generating a lot of buzz, promising a unique blend of supernatural mystery and heartfelt romance. Sources and related content
Key Takeaways
- Remain is a new movie from M. Night Shyamalan and Nicholas Sparks, with the Novel coming October 7, 2025 and the movie release date yet to be announced
- It combines supernatural suspense and romance, and will also be released as a novel
- Early buzz? Fans from both camps seem pretty hyped
About Remain: Production and Creative Collaboration
Remain is both a movie and novel project by two of the greatest to ever do it – M. Night Shyamalan and Nicholas Sparks. Shyamalan is known for his suspenseful storytelling, while Sparks is known for his emotional tales. That’s why there is already excitement from readers and movie fans.
They are filming in Rhode Island, which will provide a fresh setting for their creativity. The anticipation is building for what could be a significant release.
M. Night Shyamalan and Nicholas Sparks are bringing their very different sensibilities together in Remain, aiming for something that’s suspenseful but also has heart. The novel is set to drop October 7, 2025 and the film date will be announced later. The project overall is shaping up to be a pretty unique mash-up of their approaches.
M. Night Shyamalan and Nicholas Sparks: Visionaries Behind Remain
Shyamalan, of course, is the guy behind those twisty, supernatural movies, while Sparks is the king of tearjerker romance novels. Together, they’re trying to cook up a supernatural thriller that doesn’t skimp on the love story. Shyamalan’s resume includes stuff like “The Sixth Sense” and “Split,” so he knows a thing or two about tension.
Meanwhile, Nicholas Sparks—think “The Notebook,” “A Walk to Remember”—brings all the feels and those complicated, messy relationships. This is their first time teaming up, and honestly, it’s kind of wild to see two such different creative minds working together. There’s definitely a lot of curiosity out there about how their styles will mix.
Film Development Process and Unique Directorial Approach
For Remain, they’ve pulled together a solid team: Jack Thorne’s handling the script (he’s got a good track record with adaptations), and Philip Barantini is directing, bringing his own energetic style. Netflix is backing the project, so expect a global release and a lot of eyeballs.
Shyamalan’s taking the director’s chair and putting his stamp on the visuals—tight pacing, those signature twists. That should mesh nicely with Sparks’ focus on the characters’ emotional journeys. Most of the filming’s happening in Rhode Island, which should give the film some atmosphere. With everyone involved, it’s kind of hard to imagine Remain just blending into the crowd of 2025 releases.
Cast, Plot Inspirations, and Key Characters
In the lead roles, you’ve got Millie Bobby Brown and Henry Cavill. Brown’s playing a young woman with a rough past, forced to confront her family’s secrets after a brutal car accident. Cavill? He’s a mysterious stranger—fate’s got him tangled up in her story.
The plot digs into legacy, trauma, and even abuse—so, not exactly light stuff. What really stands out is the chemistry between the leads, who both have to face some heavy memories but still try to find hope. The supporting cast adds more layers, shaped by Sparks’ relationship drama and Shyamalan’s flair for suspense.
You’ll get supernatural twists and real-world struggles all tangled together, which feels pretty true to both creators’ styles. Themes like surviving hardship and making sense of tragedy run through the story, so expect a movie that’s both intense and, yeah, kind of moving. If you want a deeper dive, check out this piece on Remain and its creative team.
Impact and Reception Expectations
So here’s the thing: “Remain” is bringing together two pretty big names—Shyamalan, with all his plot twists, and Sparks, who’s basically synonymous with romance. Naturally, people are curious (and maybe a little skeptical?) about how suspense and romance will play out together when the book drops October 7, 2025 and the film is likely out sometime in 2026.
Influence on Modern Cinema and Genre Trends
A lot of folks in the industry think “Remain” could shake up both the romance and supernatural thriller genres. Shyamalan’s horror and suspense vibes might pull in fans of stuff like I Know What You Did Last Summer or The Crow, while Sparks’ fans are probably hoping for some serious emotional payoff.
The movie’s blend of supernatural elements and heartfelt storytelling could inspire other studios to try their hand at cross-genre experiments. Some are even comparing it to the way Jonathan Hickman shook up Marvel’s cosmic stories. Maybe this is the start of a trend for 2025—directors and studios willing to step outside the usual action or romance formulas.
People are also paying attention to how well the plot and themes actually come together. If this romance-meets-supernatural formula clicks, it could set the tone for movies coming out later in 2025 and beyond. There’s even chatter about whether franchises like “Enola Holmes 3” or those set in Wakanda might borrow a page from this playbook if it works.
Anticipation Among Fans and Industry Analysts
There’s a lot of anticipation from both Shyamalan and Sparks fans. If you poke around online, you’ll see plenty of people wondering whether this mashup will work.
What everyone seems to want to know:
- Can the movie really balance suspense and romance without feeling forced?
- Will Shyamalan drop one of his infamous twists?
- Are the character relationships going to have that gut-punch emotional pull Sparks is known for?
Analysts are watching to see how “Remain” does at the box office, since supernatural romance blockbusters are pretty rare. If it’s a hit, you can bet studios will start greenlighting more cross-genre projects—maybe even sequels or new takes on characters like Professor X or Nova.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Remain” is all about mixing supernatural drama with romance, bringing together M. Night Shyamalan’s and Nicholas Sparks’ totally different styles. The cast is interesting, and the story dives into love, loss, and the weird unknown.
What genres are being blended in the film ‘Remain’ directed by M. Night Shyamalan and written by Nicholas Sparks?
“Remain” is basically a supernatural drama wrapped around a romance. Expect a ghostly love story (so Sparks), but with Shyamalan’s way of building suspense and tension. It’s a pretty rare mix, and honestly, it’s not every day you see both creators’ signatures on one project.
Which notable actors have been cast in the leading roles for ‘Remain’?
At the moment, the full cast list is still under wraps. There’s been plenty of speculation, but nothing official yet for the leading roles. We’ll probably get more casting news as the release date gets closer.
How have M. Night Shyamalan’s signature suspense elements been integrated into a romance story by Nicholas Sparks?
Shyamalan’s all about tension and those twists that sneak up on you. For “Remain,” he’s weaving in a bit of unease and unpredictability, even as the story follows a romance. It’s not just a love story—there are mysterious events and unsettling moments that keep you guessing.
Can we expect a twist typical of Shyamalan’s style in ‘Remain’?
Honestly? Probably. Shyamalan’s pretty much built his brand on surprise endings, so there’s a good chance “Remain” will have at least one jaw-dropping moment. The filmmakers have even dropped hints that viewers should be ready for the story to take some sharp turns.
What are the central themes explored in ‘Remain’?
“Remain” is all about love, grief, and, of course, the supernatural. The characters are struggling with loss and these strange, possibly otherworldly connections between the living and the dead. It digs into how people deal with pain when they’re up against things they don’t really understand.
Have M. Night Shyamalan and Nicholas Sparks indicated plans for future collaborative projects beyond ‘Remain’?
So far, there’s nothing official about Shyamalan and Sparks teaming up again after “Remain.” This film marks their first time working together, and honestly, most of what they’ve talked about in interviews sticks to just this project. Could they collaborate again if “Remain” does well? Maybe, but right now, there’s really nothing set in stone.
If you’re curious about how this all came together or want more about the film itself, check out Remain and read up on the Shyamalan and Sparks team-up.
