Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Even M. Night Shyamalan — known for making dark movies like “The Sixth Sense” and “Signs” — is looking for light sometimes.
The director said, “I recently completed three very dark films, ‘Old’, ‘Knock at the Cabin’ and ‘Trap’, which are really fascinating films where the characters are super, super dark and complex, and I wanted to do something different.”
She had an interesting opportunity to collaborate with Nicholas on a new supernatural romance novel called “Remain” sparksYes, that Nicholas Sparks – king of romantic dramas like “The Notebook” and “A Walk to Remember.”
Co-written books are a popular trend in the publishing world right now. Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben have a new novel. James Patterson has collaborated with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton on books. However, this collaboration is different in that Shyamalan wrote the screenplay and Sparks agreed to write a novel based on the story. A “Remain” film – starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Phoebe Dynevor – production has already been completed and will be released next year.
Sparks said, “I don’t think anyone has ever done what we did, which is take the same story and then do your own thing.” “It’s not in a linear style. It’s two people working on two different art forms from the same story. I trusted him 100% to make the best film version of that story possible and he trusted me.”
The two crossed paths several years ago, when Shyamalan was asked if he would like to adapt Sparks’ novel “The Notebook” into a feature film. The job eventually went to Nick Cassavetes, but Shyamalan said that Sparks’ work “always had something magical for me.” It meant something to him that he would be entrusted with such a beloved story.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Sparks and Shyamalan talked about teaming up, horror movies and chicken salad. Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.
,
AP: At first, you two seemed like an unlikely pairing to work together. But the supernatural and romance genres have a lot in common.
Sparks: We’re not the first to get into this. The biggest film of 1990 was “Ghost”. Shakespeare He used to include ghosts in his plays.
Shyamalan: I think love is a supernatural conceit. It’s a mythology that we all believe in, but it’s still a mythology, a supernatural mythology that has “the one” in it. That “destined person” you meet at the coffee shop and you know were meant to be, and then all the things that happened because of you meeting them.
AP: Night, you say you approached Gyllenhaal at the beginning of the year about this role. When you did that, did you tell him it would also be a novel written by Sparks?
Shyamalan: I should have. But it was such an unusual moment because I finished writing the script, pressed save, and rushed to get in the car to drive to New York for my daughter’s birthday. The phone rings in the car, and it’s Jake. And I say, “What’s going on, dude?” We hadn’t talked in, like, five years. And he said, “I’d love to be in one of your movies.” And I said, “That’s so weird. Where are you?” And he says, “I’m in New York.” I said, “Okay, I’m going to New York. Want to have tea?” I had a feeling the universe was doing something. So, I called my assistant. I said, “Print the script.” So, we’re just drinking tea and talking. And he’s telling me how much in love he is and how happy and in love he is. And I said, “You know what? Here.” He was in shock. He called me two days later and said, “I’m in. I love it.” It was a strangely beautiful thing.
AP: Does the book follow the script verbatim or vice versa?
Sparks: Like any adaptation, no. The first thing I said when I read his script was, “Oh, this is great. Of course, it won’t be anything like my novel. It’s completely different.” Night said basically the same thing.
Shyamalan: I think it’ll be really interesting for audiences. They can point out the differences and ask, “Why did Nicholls do this with the character and background story? Why did Knight do this?” Our communication is not the same.
AP: Night, we are in the scary season of Halloween. Are there any films other than yours that you recommend watching?
Shyamalan: “The Exorcist,” of course, it’s always there. There’s “The Innocents.” Robert Wise’s 1963 film “The Haunting”. And the Japanese film “Cure.”
AP: Nicholas, did you make your famous chicken salad with Splenda at Night?
Sparks: No, I didn’t. I did an interview with the New York Times where I presented the reporter with my homemade chicken salad and it had Splenda in it. And whatever the reason it went viral on social media. People I thought this would be the most disgusting chicken salad ever. So, I said, “No, it’s delicious.” We started making it and handing it out to people on our book tour last year. And indeed, Splenda puts the recipe on their boxes. You can get them. I was invited to the Indianapolis 500 to see the Splenda car.
Shyamalan: To get to the core of your question. No, he didn’t make it. Nor has he mentioned it. Didn’t even offer it.