This article is about the new film, Spoiler Alert, directed by Sally Showalter. The movie tells the story of a couple struggling with an unexpected tragedy that threatens to tear their relationship apart. While it’s unquestionably tragic, Showalter does a great job of fleshing out the connection and telling it excitingly.
The movie follows its main characters, Jack and Sarah, as they grapple with the news that Sarah is pregnant with twins after years of infertility treatment and unsuccessfully trying to conceive naturally. Despite their joy at finally having children coming into their lives, tragedy strikes when one of them dies in utero, leaving Sarah devastated and Jack trying to be strong while dealing with his grief.
Regarding romantic comedies, films have yet to achieve the same success as The Big Sick. Directed by Michael Showalter and produced by Judd Apatow, the film follows a couple navigating cultures and medical diagnoses while pursuing their happily ever after. Now, fans of the weepie are getting another reason to grab their tissues: A new movie that claims to be based on a true story.
The upcoming film is titled Spoiler Alert and stars Paige Sonnenfeld as a young woman who must navigate single motherhood while also struggling with her mental health issues. As she faces these challenges, she discovers that her parent’s marriage was not all it seemed to be—and thus begins an emotional journey for herself and her family.
Unfortunately, they’re forced to address the latter issue sooner than anticipated when Ben is diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer. While he has had some illnesses in the past, Kit realizes that it will be fatal this time. As Kit and Michael care for each other, Kit’s parents, Marilyn (Sally Field) and Bob (Bill Irwin), come to stay with them. Vowing to live life to its fullest, Kit is determined to make the most of the time he has left.
‘Spoiler Alert’: Turning Books Into Films
Michael Ausiello’s 2017 memoir, Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies, is his personal account of the 13-year relationship he shared with his partner Kit. They first met in 2000 and were married in 2014, making their relationship one of enduring love and commitment. Spoiler Alert provides an intimate look into their life together, including their struggles as well as successes. All of this is set against the backdrop of Ausiello’s battle with Stage 4 cancer which ultimately took his beloved Kit’s life in March 2016. Ausiello gives a candid portrayal of his life journey from singlehood to marriage and finally to loss—all through the lens of a budding writer navigating the complexities of modern relationships.
The memoir was inspired by a series of Facebook posts Ausiello sent to a private group of friends that chronicled Kit’s diagnosis until his death. Among the group members was the Simon & Schuster publishing company employee Rakesh Satyal, who prompted Ausiello to compile his memories into a book. Ausiello’s posts are faithfully included in the film, which ends with a video of the honest Kit that Ausiello had taken.
In the wake of its wildly successful novel adaptation, fans of The Big Bang Theory have been eagerly awaiting the release of the film version. With production now underway, thanks to star Jim Parsons signing on to play his iconic character Ausiello, anticipation is reaching a fever pitch. Fans are clamoring for news and details about what they can expect from this much-anticipated movie adaptation.
The original novel was a critical success, earning high praise from critics and readers alike for its unique storyline and engaging characters. With casting announcements trickling in slowly but surely, it’s clear that the filmmakers are taking great care to bring this beloved story to life onscreen in all its glory. Now that filming has begun, it won’t be long until devoted fans get their first glimpse at what promises to be an unforgettable cinematic experience.
Deconstructing Spoiler Alert: A Truth
In an interview with Today, Ausiello acknowledged that he “was always aware that we were making a movie” and never felt like he was “watching my life unfold again before my eyes.” However, he did mention that some scenes are so faithfully adapted from his memoir that there “were times where it took my breath away with how similar it felt to the experience.” He called the film a “collaborative experience” and said that the experience of being on set helped him during the healing process. He bonded with Parsons and developed a close friendship throughout the production process.
According to Ausiello, one of the funniest moments in the film is painfully close to reality. Due to a childhood affinity for the Smurfs television show, Ausiello began collecting Smurf merchandise and collectibles when he was very young. In addition to supporting his burgeoning television fandom, Ausiello says that the collection helped him cope with the death of his mother, who was also diagnosed with cancer. This made things a bit awkward when he first brought Kit to his apartment, but Ausiello teases that his entire collection is much more extensive than the one seen in the film.
Ausiello also noted that the performances by Sally Field and Ben Aldridge were particularly close to Kit’s birth parents. Marilyn is a bit frantic and takes pleasure in cooking for Kit, and Bob makes a few humorously awkward remarks about how he and his wife are “very hip.” Ausiello said that given his parents’ death, he felt like he had been accepted into a new family by Marilyn and Bob and has frequently visited them following Kit’s death.
Ausiello notes that critical scenes, such as the couple’s therapy session and Kit’s impromptu marriage proposal were particularly close to reality. Kit had proposed after revealing that rectal cancer had spread to his brain, and Ausiello praised how Showalter was able to give his actors “so much space, so much breathing room to sort of find the little moments within that scene.” He also noted that a critical sequence at the end of the film, where Kit, his parents, and Ausiello take their last vacation to Ocean City, New Jersey, was inspired by a few photos Kit had taken during his career as a photographer. Showalter used Ausiello’s video during the trip to craft the sequence.
Tracking the Success of Michael Ausiello
Michael Ausiello has always been a television fanatic, and his passion for the small screen has taken him far. His career in journalism began with bylines in Soaps in Depth and Entertainment Tonight, before eventually joining the staff of TV Guide Magazine. For nearly twenty years he served as their Editor-in-Chief, overseeing all content related to television news. But it was his work on the website TVLine that truly made him an industry icon.
As a fan favorite, Ausiello’s work at TVLine consisted of interviews with actors, exclusive spoilers on upcoming episodes, and reviews of current shows. He built up an impressive portfolio of celebrity connections and became known for breaking some of the biggest television stories around. With his trademark blend of wit and insider knowledge, Ausiello quickly became one of the most trusted sources when it came to all things related to television.