Monarch Media Developing ‘A Walk To Remember’ Reboot

EXCLUSIVE: Monarch Media has secured the rights to A Walk to Remember, the seminal early aughts coming-of-age romance from Nicholas Sparks, with plans to develop a reboot alongside the original film’s producers Denise Di Novi and Hunt Lowry.

An enduringly popular bestseller published in 1999, A Walk to Remember follows a rebellious high school senior who falls for a quiet, faith-driven girl after being forced to participate in a school play, discovering the transformative power of love, forgiveness and the beauty of living each day with purpose. 

Famously, Shane West and Mandy Moore broke out with their turns in the original 2002 film adaptation from Warner Bros. While the Adam Shankman film made less than $48 million in theaters, it remains one of the most popular titles in the modern rom-com canon to this day.

The full producing team on the reboot will include Steve Barnett, Alan Powell and Vicky Patel for Monarch Media, Di Novi and Margaret French-Isaac for Di Novi Pictures, and Lowry and Patty Reed for Roserock Films. The rights deal marks a full-circle moment for Barnett, who spent some time contributing to the original film two decades ago while working for Di Novi.

“‘A Walk to Remember’ has endured as a beloved coming-of-age drama, captivating audiences with its heartfelt story of young love, personal growth and the power of faith for decades,” Barnett said. “We could not be more excited to bring a new version of Nicholas Sparks’ timeless story to audiences and are particularly thrilled to work alongside the original film’s producers, Denise and Hunt.”

Also currently prepping a sequel to Practical Magic, Di Novi told us, “I am so grateful to Steve and Monarch Media for giving all of us the opportunity to bring this enduring and inspirational story of faith, hope and love to a new generation, all qualities we need now more than ever.”

“I’m delighted to be bringing this timeless story to a new generation of moviegoers, and it’s great to be working with Denise again and the Monarch team,” said Lowry, who also produced What a Girl Wants alongside Di Novi.

One of the world’s most beloved storytellers, Sparks has made the New York Times bestseller list with each of his books, with over 130 million copies sold worldwide, in more than 50 languages, including over 92 million copies in the U.S. alone. While numerous films based on his work have been mounted, the other most famous title would have to be The Notebook, the romance adapted into the 2004 film starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.

Sparks’ latest novel, Counting Miracles, debuted last fall and is being adapted for film by Amazon. Up next for the author is a supernatural romantic thriller based on an original story co-created with M. Night Shyamalan. He and Shyamalan are independently writing a screenplay and a novel, respectively, based on the same original love story, with Jake Gyllenhaal on board to star in the film.

Monarch Media is known for producing the acclaimed Richard Linklater film Hit Man, starring Glen Powell, and the action thriller Valiant One, starring Chase Stokes. Currently, the company is in production on Tangles, an animated feature starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Abbi Jacobson and Seth Rogen. They also recently attached writer Michael Notarile to dark cannabis con comedy, Bune. 

The rights deal was negotiated by James Ellis on behalf of Monarch Media, Steve Kovach of HighPoint Media Advisors, and Andrew Landenberger of Shamrock Capitol. Sparks is represented by Park, Fine & Brower Literary Management, Anonymous Content, and attorney Scott E. Schwimer.