Jake Gyllenhaal to Star in M. Night Shyamalan’s Next Movie

The new movie also has a romantic element and is based on an original story created by Shyamalan and romance expert Nicholas Sparks, with a book planned.

(Left) Jake Gyllenhaal stars in 'Roadhouse.' Photo: Laura Radford © Amazon Content Services LLC. (Right) Director M. Night Shyamalan on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures’ crime drama thriller 'Trap,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Sabrina Lantos. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Preview:

Jake Gyllenhaal is reportedly to star in M. Night Shyamalan’s new movie.
It’s a romantic supernatural thriller.
Nicholas Sparks co-created the story and will write a book based on it.

The last time M. Night Shyamalan brought us a movie, he delivered last year’s ‘Trap,’ in which Josh Hartnett played a father escorting his daughter to a pop star’s concert, only to discover that the event is one giant snare designed to catch him –– as he’s also a serial killer whose latest victim is chained up in his basement.

Now the writer/director is back, and for his next trick, he’s got another big name actor looking to sign on. Jake Gyllenhaal, most recently seen in the ‘Road House’ remake, will take the lead role in the movie.

The news comes from reporter Jeff Sneider and has since been confirmed by the likes of Deadline.

But perhaps more intriguing than the Gyllenhaal casting –– after all, Shyamalan has worked with the likes of Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson to name just a few in the past –– is word that the filmmaker concocted the story alongside Nicholas Sparks. Yes, the best-selling author.

What’s the story of the new Shyamalan movie?

Director M. Night Shyamalan talks 'Trap,' which opens in theaters on August 2nd.

That’s one element we don’t know yet, at least beyond the basic supernatural romance angle.

More fascinating is the detail that Shyamalan and Sparks both intend to use the story they came up with together. While Shyamalan works on his movie, Sparks will be writing a novel based on the basic plot.

Both projects will share the same concept and set of characters, but will be tailored to their respective mediums.

So will we see Gyllenhaal as a widower who discovers that… twist alert! His wife is not as deceased as he thought? Well, the twist here is that we really don’t know.

Shyamalan is, as usual, keeping this close on his latest effort.

Has Nicholas Sparks been connected with movies before?

(L to R) Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in 'The Notebook.' Photo: New Line Cinema.

Saying Sparks has movie links is like saying Apple TV+ has series starting with the letter “S.”

He has published twenty-three novels, all New York Times bestsellers, and two works of nonfiction, with over 115 million copies sold worldwide in more than 50 languages.

11 of Sparks’ books have been turned into films, four of which he produced, including ‘The Choice,’ ‘The Longest Ride,’ ‘The Best of Me,’ and ‘Safe Haven.’

His other adaptations include ‘The Lucky One,’ ‘Message in a Bottle,’ ‘A Walk to Remember,’ ‘Nights in Rodanthe,’ ‘Dear John,’ ‘The Last Song,’ and ‘The Notebook.’

The Notebook

"Behind every great love is a great story."

PG-132 hr 3 minJun 25th, 2004

Showtimes & Tickets

Watch The Notebook Online

Films based on his novels have grossed more than $889 million worldwide, with more in development. He also worked as screenwriter on ‘The Last Song.’

Sparks’ latest book, ‘Counting Miracles,’ was released this past fall and debuted top of the New York Times bestsellers list. And you’ll be shocked to learn it’s in the process of being adapted into a film by Amazon.

This agreement with Shyamalan feels more unique –– and it’ll be interesting to see how the movie differs from the book. We’d guess the film might lean more closely into genre trappings.

What else does Jake Gyllenhaal have coming up?

Jake Gyllenhaal in 'Presumed Innocent,' premiering June 12, 2024 on Apple TV+.

Despite some early controversy about its straight-to-streaming distribution, Amazon’s ‘Road House’ was a massive hit for the studio breaking streaming records, with a sequel already in development.

Gyllenhaal next showed up in the critically acclaimed limited series ‘Presumed Innocent’ for Apple TV+, and that earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

This year he will share the stage starting next month with Denzel Washington in an adaptation of ‘Othello’ on Broadway.

Movie-wise, he’ll next be seen in Guy Ritchie’s action drama ‘In the Grey,’ which also stars Henry Cavill, Eiza Gonzalez and Rosamund Pike.

He also has ‘Frankenstein’ adaptation ‘The Bride!,’ directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal and starring Christian Bale, Jessie Buckley, Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro and Penélope Cruz. That film is scheduled for release on September 26th.

When will Shyamalan’s new movie head to theaters?

The film doesn’t yet have a studio home, though ‘Trap’ distributors Warner Bros. are already in talks to handle it, so we doubt it’ll take long for that to lock in.

Director M. Night Shyamalan on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures’ crime drama thriller 'Trap,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

Director M. Night Shyamalan (center) on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures’ crime drama thriller 'Trap,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Sabrina Lantos. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.