NPR's Book of the Day Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan on 'Remain,' their supernatural romance novel
Jan 26, 2026
M. Night Shyamalan, filmmaker famous for The Sixth Sense, and Nicholas Sparks, bestselling author of romantic dramas, discuss Remain. They describe how their unlikely collaboration mixed romance with supernatural mystery. They talk about shared storytelling roots, genre blending, and the journey from book to film.
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Collaboration Born From A Hollywood Introducer
- Nicholas Sparks describes the collaboration as a Hollywood introduction that actually worked after many others failed.
- He says his agent connected him to Blinding Edge and this pairing unexpectedly clicked into a real project.
Shared Emphasis On Character Journey
- M. Night Shyamalan notes his films are family dramas dressed as rides, aligning with Sparks' focus on character journeys.
- Both creators emphasize character development as the core of their storytelling despite genre differences.
Two Creators, Two Versions Of One Idea
- Sparks explains they each wrote a different version of the same story, likening the idea to a coin with two stamped sides.
- He framed his task as reinventing his romantic approach without repeating The Notebook.
