You know that feeling when you hear two names together and your brain just short-circuits trying to figure out how it works? That was me when I saw the news about the new Jake Gyllenhaal film. It’s called Remain. And honestly, the pedigree behind it is enough to make any movie nerd do a double-take. We’ve got M. Night Shyamalan directing. Okay, cool, spooky vibes. But then—and this is the weird part—he’s co-writing it with Nicholas Sparks.
Yes, that Nicholas Sparks. The guy who wrote The Notebook.
It sounds like a fever dream. Imagine a story that’s half "I’ll love you forever in the rain" and half "there’s a ghost in the basement and also everyone is actually dead." It’s a wild swing. But Gyllenhaal is the king of wild swings, so maybe we should have seen this coming.
What is Remain Actually About?
Most people are calling this a "supernatural romantic thriller," which is a mouthful. Basically, Gyllenhaal plays a guy named Tate Donovan. He’s a New York architect who has had a rough go of it lately. He’s dealing with some pretty heavy clinical depression and decides he needs a total reset. So, he heads to Cape Cod to design a summer home for his best friend.
Then he meets Wren.
Wren is played by Phoebe Dynevor, who you probably recognize from Bridgerton. She’s this young woman who basically upends Tate’s entire logical, structured world. But since this is a Shyamalan project, you know there’s a catch. Things aren't just going to be sunset walks on the beach. There’s a supernatural element woven into the romance that supposedly "hits hard," according to early buzz.
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They filmed a lot of this in Rhode Island. Specifically at the Cranston Street Armory in Providence. There’s something about those old, cold New England locations that just fits Gyllenhaal’s vibe perfectly. He’s always been best when he’s looking slightly distressed in a beautiful setting. Think Prisoners or Nocturnal Animals.
The Weird Path to 2026
If you're wondering why you haven't seen a trailer yet, it's because the release date is still a bit of a way off. Remain is currently slated to hit theaters on October 23, 2026. Warner Bros. picked it up and they're clearly eyeing that Halloween-adjacent window for maximum "spooky romance" impact.
But that’s not the only new Jake Gyllenhaal film people are tracking.
The man is busy. Like, suspiciously busy. He’s also got The Bride! coming out sooner—March 6, 2026. That one is directed by his sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal. It’s a 1930s-set Bride of Frankenstein riff where Jake stars alongside Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley. If Remain is the moody, atmospheric thriller, The Bride! looks like the stylized, chaotic cousin.
Then there’s the Guy Ritchie situation.
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Gyllenhaal and Ritchie already gave us The Covenant, which was surprisingly great. Their next collaboration, In the Grey, has had a bit of a messy journey. It was supposed to come out in early 2025. Then it vanished. Now, word is it’s finally finished and will likely drop sometime in 2026 through Black Bear Pictures. It stars Henry Cavill too, so expect lots of handsome men doing high-stakes extraction missions.
Why Does Gyllenhaal Keep Picking These Roles?
He doesn't do boring movies. Seriously. Look at his track record. He’ll do a massive blockbuster like Spider-Man: Far From Home and then immediately pivot to an experimental one-room thriller like The Guilty.
Working with Shyamalan on Remain feels like a natural evolution of that. Shyamalan is a "love him or hate him" director, but you can’t deny he’s an auteur. He has a specific voice. Gyllenhaal thrives when he’s working with directors who have a very strong, sometimes slightly eccentric vision.
The fact that this project is based on a story idea Shyamalan and Sparks came up with together is the real kicker. Sparks actually wrote a novel version of Remain that came out recently. If you want a preview of what the movie might feel like, the book is already out there. It’s definitely more "ghostly love story" than "standard slasher," which fits the current trend of elevated horror and genre-blending.
The Road House 2 Update
We can’t talk about his upcoming slate without mentioning the elephant in the room: Road House 2. The first one was a massive hit for Prime Video, despite all the drama with Doug Liman.
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Amazon is definitely moving forward with the sequel. Gyllenhaal is returning as Dalton, obviously. There’s been some musical chairs in the director’s seat—Guy Ritchie was originally going to do it but stepped away. Now, Ilya Naishuller (the guy who directed Nobody) is taking the reins.
It's clear that Gyllenhaal is currently in his "Action Hero" era while simultaneously keeping his "Indie Darling" credentials alive with stuff like Remain. It’s a smart play.
Actionable Tips for Following These Releases
If you're trying to keep track of all these projects without losing your mind, here is how to stay updated:
- Set a Google Alert for "Remain Movie 2026": This is the best way to catch the first teaser trailer when it eventually drops, likely in late 2025.
- Check out the Nicholas Sparks novel: If you hate spoilers, stay away. But if you want to know the vibe of the new Jake Gyllenhaal film before everyone else, the book Remain provides the blueprint.
- Watch In the Grey when it hits VOD: Since its theatrical release has been so rocky, it might end up on a streaming service or digital rental sooner than expected in 2026.
- Follow Maggie Gyllenhaal on social media: She’s been the best source for behind-the-scenes glimpses of The Bride!, which will be Jake’s first big 2026 appearance.
The 2026 film calendar is looking incredibly crowded, but Gyllenhaal seems to have staked out some of the most interesting territory. Whether he's playing a depressed architect in a haunted Cape Cod house or a 1930s socialite in a Frankenstein remake, he’s definitely not playing it safe.
Keep an eye on that October 23 date. That’s when we’ll finally see if the Shyamalan-Sparks-Gyllenhaal trio is a stroke of genius or just a very expensive, very pretty mistake.
Next Steps for the Gyllenhaal Fan:
Check your local theater listings for The Bride! starting in February 2026, as the marketing push for his collaboration with his sister will begin months before Remain enters the spotlight.