On the surface, the last two individuals you’d ever expect to work together would be horror legend M. Night Shyamalan and prolific romance novelist Nicholas Sparks.
But in an unexpected development in both men’s careers, the award-winning filmmaking behind Split, Unbreakable, and The Sixth Sense will unite for a genre-bending project with the New York Time-selling writer of The Notebook and A Walk to Remember.
In a unique collaboration between the two pop culture juggernauts, Shyamalan and Sparks will join forces on the upcoming novel, Remain. Set in the idyllic coastal community of Cape Code, the book will follow a New York architect grieving the recent loss of his sister. As he contends with the heartbreak of his sibling’s passing, he soon meets a young woman who sheds new light on the mysterious world around him.
The book is scheduled to hit shelves this coming fall, with a cinematic tie-in directed by Shyamalan expected to arrive at some point in the near future. Shyamalan will provide the screenplay for the film, which is expected to feature the same basic plot and characters as Sparks’ underlying novel.
Further production details about the movie, such as an official release date, are still up for speculation, although Deadline has reported that Shyamalan is eyeing Jake Gyllenhaal and Phoebe Dynevor for key roles in the film.
In a recent interview with People magazine, Sparks revealed some additional information about the book’s release, including the beautifully drawn cover of Remain, as well as his excitement at working with Shyamalan for the narrative’s story.
“Collaborating with M. Night Shyamalan has been one of the highlights of my career,” Sparks said to People. “We are excited to share the next stage in this process: the beautiful book cover, designed by my longtime cover designer Flamur Tonuzi.”
Arriving just in time for the Halloween season, hardcover editions of Remain will be available to readers on October 7, 2025.
