If you’ve spent the last decade assuming Nicholas Sparks was just going to keep writing stories about people staring longingly at the North Carolina coastline, well, you’re in for a bit of a shock. Something weird is happening. And honestly, it’s about time.
For the first time since The Choice hit theaters in 2016, the king of the "cry-fest" is back in the Hollywood game. But he isn't doing it alone. The new movie of Nicholas Sparks, titled Remain, is a massive departure from the formula. He’s teamed up with—get this—M. Night Shyamalan. Yes, the guy who made The Sixth Sense. It sounds like a fever dream, but it's 100% real. They basically locked themselves in a room in Pennsylvania to figure out how to mash up a "ghostly thriller" with a "gut-wrenching romance."
The Shift to Supernatural: Why Remain is Different
Most fans are used to the standard Sparks setup: guy meets girl, someone has a secret, there is a letter involved, and someone probably dies of a terminal illness or a tragic boat accident.
Remain changes the rules.
The story follows Tate Donovan, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Tate is an architect who is basically falling apart. He’s just been released from a psychiatric facility after dealing with severe depression following his sister’s death. He heads to Cape Cod to design a house, hoping for some peace. Instead, he meets Wren, played by Phoebe Dynevor from Bridgerton.
But here is the twist: Tate’s sister told him on her deathbed that their family has a "gift"—the ability to see spirits.
It's a supernatural romantic thriller.
This isn't just another beach romance. It’s a collaboration that’s been brewing for nearly thirty years. Fun fact: Sparks actually wanted Shyamalan to direct The Notebook back in the late 90s. Shyamalan turned it down to make The Sixth Sense instead. Now, they’ve finally circled back to each other.
Beyond Cape Cod: The Nicholas Sparks Cinematic Comeback
If thrillers aren't your thing, don't worry. Sparks isn't abandoning his roots entirely. He’s actually juggling multiple projects right now that feel a bit more like "classic Sparks."
Counting Miracles: The Alan Ritchson Project
You’ve probably seen Alan Ritchson punching people in Reacher. He’s huge, he’s intense, and he’s the last person you’d expect to see in a Sparks movie. Yet, he is set to star in and produce the adaptation of Counting Miracles.
The book just came out in late 2024 and hit number one on the New York Times bestseller list almost immediately. Ritchson plays Tanner Hughes, a former Army Ranger looking for his father. It’s got the small-town North Carolina vibe (Asheboro, specifically), a single mom who is a doctor, and an 83-year-old man named Jasper living in the woods with his dog.
Basically, it's the "heavy-hitter" emotional drama people have been craving.
The Universal Pictures Triple Threat
Sparks also signed a massive three-movie deal with Universal Pictures. The goal? To adapt his most recent bestsellers into big-budget dramas.
- The Wish: This one spans two timelines (1996 and 2019) and follows a travel photographer named Maggie Dawes. It’s very much in the vein of The Notebook with the dual-era storytelling.
- Dreamland: This story focuses on a musician in Nashville and a guy who leaves his family’s farm to follow his dreams.
- The Return: While not officially the third movie in the Universal deal yet, it’s been in development for a while and follows an Army doctor returning to a small town.
Release Dates: When Can You Actually See Them?
The new movie of Nicholas Sparks that everyone is tracking most closely is Remain.
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Warner Bros. has officially locked in the release date: October 23, 2026.
They finished filming in Rhode Island in August 2025. They used the Cranston Street Armory as a massive soundstage and shot on location in places like Bristol and Little Compton. If you're looking for Counting Miracles, that one is still in the earlier stages of production with Amazon MGM Studios. Since Ritchson is busy with Reacher Season 3 and other projects, we likely won't see that until 2027.
Why This Matters for Fans (and Critics)
For a long time, Nicholas Sparks movies were considered "niche." Critics hated them; audiences loved them. But this new wave of adaptations feels more... prestige?
Bringing in actors like Gyllenhaal and Dynevor, and directors like Shyamalan, suggests that Sparks is trying to move away from the "hallmark-plus" label. He’s moving toward complex psychological dramas that happen to have a romantic core.
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It's a gamble. Will the "Sparks Sisters" (the die-hard fans) enjoy a movie about ghosts and psychiatric facilities? Maybe. But it's certainly more interesting than another movie where two people just stand in the rain.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to stay ahead of the curve before these hit theaters, here is what you should do:
- Read "Remain" first: The novel version of Remain was released in October 2025. Reading it now will give you a sense of how "spooky" the movie is actually going to be compared to the book.
- Watch the "Counting Miracles" casting: Keep an eye on who they cast as Kaitlyn (the single mom) and Jasper (the old man). Those roles are the emotional backbone of that story and will tell us if the movie is going for a gritty or sentimental tone.
- Follow the Rhode Island trail: If you're a film buff, the filming locations for Remain in Bristol and Warren, RI, are already becoming mini-tourist spots.
The era of the "standard" Sparks movie is over. The new era is weirder, darker, and surprisingly star-studded.