M. Night Shyamalan’s next movie has reportedly cast Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role as the first details about the project are revealed. Shyamalan burst onto the scene in the late 1990s, withThe Sixth Sense(1999) launching his career as a writer and director. Since then, he has regularly released new films, often in the thriller genre and often with big twists. His most recent releases was last year’sTrap, which earned somewhat mixed reviews but was a box office success.
Deadlinenow reports that Shyamalan’s next movie is beginning to take shape.The film is described as a supernatural romantic thriller, and Gyllenhaal is set to star in the untitled project. The report also notes that the movie is based on an original story co-created by Shyamalan and novelist Nicholas Sparks. As Shyamalan works on the screenplay for the movie, Sparks is said to be writing a novel based on the same idea with the same characters, though his version will be tailored to be more fitting for a novel format.
The report also reveals that Shyamalan’s production company, Blinding Edge Pictures, is currently in talks with Warner Bros. to secure the film a theatrical release. The movie doesn’t yet have a release date or a filming window.
Some of Sparks' books include:The Notebook,Dear John,The Longest Ride,The Last Song, andSafe Haven, withCounting Miraclesbeing his most recent.
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Gyllenhaal’s Recent Career Explained
Gyllenhaal remains one of the most recognizable actors working in Hollywood today. He most recently appeared in director Doug Liman’sRoad Houseremake for Prime Videolast year, but recent years have also seen him appear inGuy Ritchie’s The Covenant(2023),Ambulance(2022),The Guilty(2021),Spider-Man: Far From Home(2019), andVelvet Buzzsaw(2019). He also recently starred in his first major TV series withPresumed Innocenton Apple TV+, which was a massive hit.
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Director M. Night Shyamalan is known for his incredible filmography, from the critically panned After Earth to the acclaimed Unbreakable.
Many ofGyllenhaal’s movies rolesin recent years have been action-oriented or dark in some way, and the thriller element of Shyamalan’s next project suggests he may not be entirely leaving these behind for their upcoming collaboration.Sparks, though, is best known for penning emotional and romantic stories, meaning the next film will likely be leaning heavily into these aspects. Though the title and logline remain unknown, Shyamalan’s next movie sounds like quite a departure fromTrap.
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Why His Collaboration With Nicholas Sparks Could Work
Shyamalan’s recent movieshave all been fairly divisive, but the filmmaker is clearly committed to entertaining audiences and subverting expectations. A romance movie isn’t something he’s really done before, and that’s what makes Sparks' involvement so exciting. Shyamalan has a lot of experience with thrillers and the supernatural, while Sparks has the same with romance, andputting these two creatives together could result in a truly unique experience that plays to each figure’s strengths.
Gyllenhaal has arguably not had a truly standout lead role in movie in a number of years, at least nothing on par withNightcrawler(2014),Prisoners(2013), andZodiac(2007). Gyllenhaal has a dark side that sometimes comes out in his thrillers, and it will be interesting to see how this plays into a story that has a large focus on romance. Many questions remain aboutShyamalan’s next movie, but it is already sounding like an exciting new direction for all involved.
