Jake Gyllenhaal, Phoebe Dynevor’s love story takes spooky turn in ‘Remain’ trailer

Jake Gyllenhaal and Phoebe Dynevor appear to find an unlikely romance in the first trailer for “Remain,” an unexpected collaboration between filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan and bestselling romance author Nicholas Sparks.

Warner Bros. Pictures recently released the first teaser for the supernatural romantic thriller, offering a glimpse at the unusual love story. 

Gyllenhaal stars as Tate Gordon, an architect who moves to a small coastal town to make a fresh start after a difficult period in his life. There, he meets Wren, played by Dynevor, an alluring young woman who gradually draws him out of his shell.

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The trailer initially presents Tate and Wren’s relationship like a quiet romance. They spend time together, play games, share meals and grow increasingly close, with Tate telling Wren, “Truth is, Wren, you’re not like anybody I’ve ever met.”

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The trailer progresses as Tate becomes more invested in Wren as she appears and disappears under mysterious circumstances. Tate starts questioning what he knows about her and the town where he has settled.

At one point, Wren asks Tate, “Why can’t we be together?” before the trailer shifts into a darker tone. The teaser ends with Tate running toward an open field before he comes to his senses about Wren’s existence.

“Remain” is based on an original story developed by Shyamalan and Sparks. Sparks wrote the novel, while Shyamalan wrote and directed the film. The novel was published in October 2025 and became a No. 1 New York Times bestseller. 

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The film marks an especially unusual pairing of the creatives. Shyamalan rose to fame for his work in “The Sixth Sense” in 1999, followed by films including “Split,” “Glass” and “Old.” His most recent film was the 2024 thriller “Trap.”

Sparks, meanwhile, is known for his romance novels, most famously “The Notebook” and “A Walk to Remember.” “Remain” is his 25th novel, and 11 of his novels were previously adapted into films. His last film adaptation was “The Choice” in 2016.

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Gyllenhaal is known for the films “October Sky,” “Donnie Darko” and “Brokeback Mountain,” among others. He starred in the 2024 remake of “Road House” and led Apple’s legal thriller series “Presumed Innocent.”

Dynevor rose to international fame as Daphne Bridgerton in Netflix’s period romance “Bridgerton,” which premiered in 2020. She also appeared in the psychological relationship thriller “Fair Play,” where she earned a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination.

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“Remain,” whose supporting cast includes Ashley Walters, Julie Hagerty, Jay O. Sanders and Tracy Ifeachor, opens in cinemas in February 2027. /ra