Introduction to the New Production
Sony Pictures International Productions (Spip) is gearing up for its first production in Thailand, collaborating with GDH to reimagine the 2004 romantic comedy "50 First Dates". This project marks the feature debut of Nicha Yontararak, also known as Minnie from the K-Pop group I-DLE. Yontararak will star alongside Nadech Kugimiya, who recently played the main role in the supernatural horror "Death Whisperer 2", the highest-grossing Thai film of 2024 with USD 24.7 million (THB825M).
Production Team and Details
The production will be guided and produced by MEZ Talatorn, known for his work on the 2014 romantic comedy "I’m fine… thank you… love you". Talatorn co-wrote the script with Thodinnakorn from "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies" fame and Benjamaporn Srabua, whose credits include "Dear Fate: The Film". The original "50 First Dates" by Sony starred Adam Sandler as a commitment-phobe who falls in love with a woman, played by Drew Barrymore, suffering from short-term memory loss.
Production Schedule and Distribution
Production is expected to commence later this year, with a planned release in Thailand in 2026. Sony/Spip will handle worldwide distribution. The producers of "Bad Genius", Jira Maligool and Vanridee Pongsittisak, are on board as producers alongside Talatorn, with Suwimon Techasupinan serving as a co-producer. Miqi Huang, Sony Entertainment VP for local production in Greater China and Southeast Asia, negotiated the deal for Spip.
Statements from the Team
Shebnem Askin, EVP, Creative Production and Director at Spip, expressed excitement about bringing the heart and humor of "50 First Dates" to the Thai audience, highlighting the country’s vibrant storytelling culture. GDH’s CEO, Jina Osothsilp, sees this project as a creative challenge and a milestone in their mission to bring Thai filmmaking to the global stage. GDH is known for producing films like "Bad Genius" and the Oscar-shortlisted "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies".
