How a missed opportunity for The Notebook led to a supernatural thriller
In short: Decades ago, M. Night Shyamalan turned down a chance to rewrite The Notebook. That rejection paved the way for The Sixth Sense, but a recent meeting between the director and novelist Nicholas Sparks has finally brought their long-delayed collaboration to life.
The creative origins of Remain trace back to a near-miss in the late 1990s. Nicholas Sparks once suggested that Shyamalan be approached to rewrite the screenplay for the 2004 film adaptation of his 1996 novel, The Notebook. However, Shyamalan declined the offer to focus on directing The Sixth Sense (1999). It took nearly thirty years for the two to finally collaborate, beginning with a brainstorming session at Shyamalan's Pennsylvania home in May 2023.
The development process was unique, with the two creators working on parallel tracks. After Shyamalan pitched the idea, he drafted a screenplay, which Sparks received in October 2024. Sparks then chose to write his own version of the story as a novel, which he published in October 2025. The resulting film, a supernatural romantic thriller, features a cast including Jake Gyllenhaal, Phoebe Dynevor, and Ashley Walters.
The production itself utilized traditional filmmaking techniques, shot on 35 mm VistaVision cameras. Principal photography began in Rhode Island on June 18, 2025, and concluded in August 2025. To facilitate the shoot, Shyamalan's Blinding Edge Pictures leased the historic Cranston Street Armory for seven months, paying a monthly fee of $10,000. The armory served as a soundstage for a bed-and-breakfast interior.
Following a surprise premiere at Beyond Fest on September 29, 2026, the film's release date was shifted from October 2026 to February 5, 2027. The film also reunites Shyamalan with composer James Newton Howard for their ninth collaboration, their first since 2013's After Earth.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Remain (film)
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