By Christopher Campbell
Given that “Dear John” was popular enough to knock “Avatar” from its box office throne, it’s no surprise that Warner Bros. is moving ahead with “The Lucky One,” a similar romantic drama also based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks. According to Variety, he studio doesn’t even need to wait to see how well Miley Cyrus’ upcoming Sparks-based film, “The Last Song,” does before announcing that Scott Hicks (“No Reservations”) is in talks to direct this next adaptation of the bestselling author’s work.
If the twice-Oscar-nominated Hicks does come on board, he brings a prestige to “The Lucky One” that nearly matches “Dear John,” which was helmed by three-time Oscar nominee Lasse Hallstrom. Also relative to the recent hit film is the plot of “The Lucky One,” which like “Dear John” involves an active-duty soldier and the strength and spirit he maintains oversees through his love for a woman back home.
The difference is that the character in “The Lucky One” has never met the person he’s living for. Nor has he corresponded with her in any way. Instead, he’s just been carrying a found photo of this mystery woman, who he believes brings him luck. And after finishing his service in Iraq he goes in search of her, hoping they’re destined to fall in love. But the fairy tale premise hits a snag when the search is sidetracked by a relationship with another woman.
Sounds like another tearjerker. But will it be as big as “Dear John” or “The Notebook” in terms of Sparks adaptations? “The Lucky One” is being produced by Denise Di Novi, who gave us the less successful Sparks-based movies “A Walk to Remember,” “Nights in Rodanthe” and “Message in a Bottle.”
Of course it really doesn’t matter who produces or directs this movie. It’s main appeal will come down to who stars and how much chemistry they have together. If Warner Bros. can find another lead pair as great as Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams or Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried, “The Lucky One” might be another big hit for the author’s brand.
Have you read “The Lucky One”? Who would you like to see star in the adaptation?
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