John Krasinski is an integral part of the A Quiet Place film franchise. The actor not only starred in a prominent role, but also directed the original film and co-wrote the screenplay. He is the creator and driving force behind the series. He further elevated his role by becoming the producer for the sequel A Quiet Place Part II. The massive success of the post-apocalyptic horror film has encouraged Krasinski to develop another idea and produce a third installment, which will be released later this year. However, despite two very successful movies, The Office star will not direct the next two entries in the franchise.
Ideas for a third A Quiet Place Part movie had already begun forming in Krasinski's mind all the way back in 2020. In mid-2021, director Jeff Nichols was chosen by Krasinski to helm the project, but later that year, he dropped out altogether and was replaced by Michael Sarnoski. It was also revealed the next entry would not be a third film but instead a prequel. Later, Paramount Pictures confirmed they would also be developing A Quiet Place Part III, and Krasinski's wife and A Quiet Place star Emily Blunt confirmed that Krasinski is directing that film. Here's why Krasinski has chosen to opt out of directing A Quiet Place: Day One.
Update January 9, 2024: This article has been updated with more details regarding A Quiet Place: Day One, A Quiet Place Part III, and Krasinski's next film, IF.
John Krasinski’s Reason Behind Not Directing A Quiet Place: Day One
The Office star was quite happy to pass the baton to Nichols, director of the Matthew McConaughey film Mud, as he revealed during his interview with Empire. Krasinski believed that Nichols could smoothly continue the story the way he had planned it all along, and was quite thrilled with his decision. Adding to his excitement, and the reason why Krasinski ultimately chose to step down as director, is the fresh take that would come along with Nichols, and how it would easily complement his ability to illustrate the characters in the realest form — something A Quiet Place: Part One would definitely cherish.
That said, though Nichols was the first choice, he unfortunately stepped down from the role back in 2021. Now titled A Quiet Place: Day One, the responsibility to direct the prequel film falls on Michael Sarnoski, who directed the 2021 drama Pig starring Nicolas Cage. Sarnoski proved himself with Pig, demonstrating his incredible ability to reflect emotion in the wilderness and encompass the plot around a foreign concept. The A Quiet Place franchise might be associated with horror, but it has a great understanding of the sentiment within the Abbott family and their need to survive. Pig has an unusual tone, mimicking in part the traits of A Quiet Place, which may well have proved to be a major advantage when it came to penning the script.
A Quiet Place: Day One Details
A Quiet Place: Day One was originally scheduled to be released globally on September 22, 2023. However, in late July 2022, Paramount Pictures announced that the release date had been pushed to March 8, 2024, and due to further delays, including the SAG-AFTRA strikes, the film was given June 28, 2024, as its release date. The prequel, which will follow the legacy of Krasinski’s hit films, has not revealed any official cast lineup. The audience should also not expect any of the previous cast — Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe — in the film. It's clear that the spin-off/prequel will introduce fresh characters and a new plot, with 12 Years a Slave's Lupita Nyong'o, Djimon Hounsou, Hereditary's Alex Wolff, and Dallas Buyers Club's Denis O'Hare all confirmed to be in the movie's lineup.
A Quiet Place: Day One Plot, Cast, Release Date, and Everything Else We Know
A Quiet Place: Day One will document an unprecedented first by offering a fascinating insight into the events that led to the fateful day the Abbott family was torn apart by these sound-receptive extra-terrestrial beasts. However, per Inverse, considering the first film opens on Day 89, it's safe to say that Day One will take audiences to the start of it all, possibly expanding our knowledge of the sound-sensitive monsters and maybe even introducing us to different tones and themes than we're already familiar with. As yet, little has been revealed about the plot other than the fact it will be set during the days leading up to the 89th day.
What is John Krasinski Doing Instead?
With John Krasinski firmly out of the picture as far as directing the next installment of the franchise is concerned, it left the actor-turned-director with some free time on his hands. As such, he made the decision to turn his attention to a new project in the form of the upcoming live-action animation comedy film IF. Boasting a cast of Ryan Reynolds, Sam Rockwell, Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, IF has all the makings of a potential hit. Set to be released in cinemas on May 17, 2024, the film follows a young girl who possesses the ability to see other people's imaginary friends who have been discarded over the years.
Krasinski signed on to direct IF in October 2019, a year after A Quiet Place and shortly after A Quiet Place Part II wrapped filming, so he might have been contractually obligated to work on this film while Paramount Pictures likely wanted another film in the Quiet Place franchise as it has been a profitable moneymaker for them. Similar to A Quiet Place: Day One, it was not originally supposed to hit theaters in 2024. It was originally scheduled for November 17, 2023, but was delayed into summer 2024. It now is one of the big summer movies set for the season and a rare big-budget original film opening as a potential summer blockbuster. Yet this delay did not find both A Quiet Place: Day One and IF opening in the same year.
A Quiet Place Part III is Still Happening
While Krasinski might be sitting out the prequel film, it appears he will return to the franchise and could possibly close out the trilogy. It was also announced that Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe would be returning, with A Quiet Place Part III confirmed to be in the works. In 2023, Blunt said that her husband is set to return to the directors chair. Paramount Pictures currently has the release date set for sometime in 2025, but no details have been given since.
A Quiet Place has grown a lot since the first film was released in 2018. It has launched John Krasinski into being a high-profile director while also giving Paramount Pictures a bonafide horror franchise. If A Quiet Place: Day One does well at the box office, Krasinski could conclude his storyline in A Quiet Place Part III while Paramount continues the series with other directors set in the world.