M. Night Shyamalan, Nicholas Sparks Teaming Up To Make Film In RI

RHODE ISLAND — Academy Ward nominated filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan and best-selling author Nicholas Sparks are teaming up to make a supernatural romantic thriller movie this summer in Rhode Island, according to the Rhode Island Film & TV Office.

The original narrative is a collaboration between Sparks and Shyamalan, with Sparks writing a book and Shyamalan writing a screenplay independently, based on the same original love story. The Blinding Edge Pictures film will star Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko, Road House, Presumed Innocent).

"It is a dream come true to have one of my favorite filmmakers making an original movie here in our beloved Ocean State," Steven Feinberg, the exectuive director of the Rhode Island Film & TV Office, said. "Night is a visionary who always attracts top-notch talent in front of and behind the camera. Rhode Island is a special location steeped in history, beauty and great mystery. With all of these amazing ingredients in the hands of a master filmmaker, we can expect M .Night Shyamalan and his outstanding team to tantalize our senses and make a movie we can all be proud of!"

Shyamalan’s most recent feature “Trap”, a psychological thriller starring Josh Hartnett was released in August 2024. His other films include “The Sixth Sense” which was nominated for six Oscars in 2000, “Signs” with Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix, and the “Eastrail 177 Trilogy” with the films “Unbreakable”, “Split” and “Glass”, starring Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson and James McAvoy. Shyamalan will produce the film with Blinding Edge Pictures president and producing partner Ashwin Rajan, Sparks’ longtime producer Theresa Park and Marc Bienstock.

New York Times best-selling novelist Sparks has published 23 novels and two works of nonfiction. A total of 11 of those novels have been adapted as films, most notably 2004’s hit “The Notebook” starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling.

"Rhode Island is excited to host the talented cast and crew of this high-quality film directed by such a master storyteller as M. Night Shyamalan," Gov. Dan McKee said. "It’s great to see a new production that showcases our beautiful Ocean State. With our unique landscape and talented local artists, Rhode Island is an ideal location to film a motion picture or television series. Every time a production shoots here, we see a positive impact on our local businesses. This is the type of energy that keeps moving our economy forward."

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