Amazon MGM Studios’ adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks bestseller “Counting Miracles” has found its writer/director in “The Peanut Butter Falcon” co-filmmaker Tyler Nilson.
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Starring Alan Ritchson, “Counting Miracles” follows Army Ranger Tanner Hughes (Ritchson) as he crosses the country comforting the families of fallen soldiers until a mysterious letter sends him searching for the father he never knew. His journey leads him to a small town, where a blossoming romance with a doctor and single mother of two draws him into the life of a reclusive old man with a haunting past. As their lives become unexpectedly intertwined, Tanner is forced to confront the truth of who he is — and discover where he truly belongs.
In collaboration with Nilson and Sparks, “Counting Miracles” will be produced by Ritchson via his Dancing Skeleton banner alongside Di Novi Pictures’ Denise Di Novi and Margaret French Isaac, and Sparks’s longtime producing partner Theresa Park. Currently, Dancing Skeleton and Di Novi Pictures are under first-look film deals with Amazon MGM Studios and Ritchson has a three-picture acting deal with the company.
Nilson’s breakout came with 2019’s “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” which he co-wrote and co-directed with Michael Schwartz as their feature debut. Starring Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, and Zack Gottsagen, the film won the Audience Award at SXSW, earned a DGA nomination for Achievement in First-Time Feature Film, landed on the NBR’s Top Ten Independent Films list, and became the highest-grossing indie release of the year.
Next up for Nilson was 2024’s “Los Frikis,” which he co-wrote and directed with Schwartz and was produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Starring Adria Arjona and Héctor Medina, the film was set in 1990s Cuba.
Best known for his novels including “The Notebook,” “A Walk to Remember,” “Message in a Bottle,” “Dear John,” “The Last Song,” “Safe Haven,” “The Longest Ride” and “The Choice,” Sparks is no stranger to a Hollywood adaptation. His novels have been made into films that have collectively grossed more than $750 million worldwide, with Sparks serving as a producer on several adaptations.
Aside from “Counting Miracles,” Sparks’ next big film adaptation is “Remain,” which stars Jake Gyllenhaal and is set to release Feb. 5, 2027.
He is repped by Howie Sanders, co-head of the Anonymous Content media rights department, Celeste Fine of Park & Fine Literary and Media, Jill Fritzo PR and Scott Schwimer Esq.