Ben Madilynn
In the wake of directing, writing, and starring alongside his wife Emily Blunt in the global box-office hits A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place Part II, John Krasinski made a complete 180-degree turn with IF, a unique adventure for the whole family to enjoy. The inspiration—his own family. “I’ve wanted to make a movie for them for a long time,” he explained.
After spending time with his 8-year-old and 6-year-old daughters during the early days of the pandemic, Krasinski saw the power of their imagination. As the pandemic progressed, he noticed their lights dimming. They were full of strength and excitement, but they became more cautious about everything.
Seeking inspiration on how to nurture his children’s imagination, the world of IF began to take shape. The producer, Allyson Seeger, recalled the beginning of IF. “John said, ‘What if, instead of making a movie about imagination, we make imagination a character in the movie?’ Adult life often stifles imagination from within, but the film explores the question—what if it’s not too late to reconnect with it? To be a child again, even just for a moment,” she says.
Krasinski also admitted to having his own imaginary friends growing up. “Our house was close to a video store, and I was allowed to walk there alone at night. I would take half an hour to get home because I would pretend all these different creatures were chasing me, and I had to hide in my neighbor’s bushes to escape.”
They embarked on this transformative journey centered around a 12-year-old named Bea, who, at that age, needed to grow up quickly. On the brink of adolescence, she must leave her childhood behind and discover her unique superpower to see the imaginary friends of everyone.
Krasinski decided to pitch this idea to his good friend, actor Ryan Reynolds, before putting it into a script. “Ryan, I think, is one of the smartest people out there,” Krasinski said. “He knows comedy, he knows drama. We talked about making a movie together forever. I explained that I was making a movie about kids and their imaginary friends. Did he want to be a part of it? He said, ‘Yes, definitely.'”
Reynolds believes in Krasinski’s vision, and IF is the next natural step for Krasinski as a filmmaker. “I struggle to think of a writer or director who knows more about their own parenthood than John Krasinski. Being a father and husband really solidifies his cinematic language. What stands out to me is he can make a movie as terrifying and provocative as A Quiet Place, but he can also do something as endearing, unexpected, and joyful as IF.”
At the heart of the Quiet Place films and IF is the family, and how they navigate difficult situations. While the Quiet Place movies offer hair-raising thrills, IF promises plenty of laughs and fun moments. “A Quiet Place is a metaphor for parenthood and how far you would go to protect your children,” said producer Seeger. “I think IF is a movie for kids, parents, for every generation. It’s a coming-of-age story for everyone.”
IF will hit theaters in the Philippines on May 15.
