As his follow-up to the highly acclaimed horror story A Quiet Place, writer, director, and actor John Krasinski has opted for a more light-hearted and family-friendly picture titled IF (previously under the title Imaginary Friends). Krasinski was reportedly assembling a cast of A-list comedians and actors, including his first reunion with The Office co-star Steve Carell, when the film’s announcement was made public.
According to Deadline, fan favourite and former SNL cast member Bobby Moynihan is also joining this stellar ensemble. Actor, writer, and producer Moynihan has been working in the comedy industry since the late ’90s, but he didn’t really break out as a comic until he joined SNL in 2008. For over a decade, Moynihan dominated the live late-night comedy programme with his deadpan performances and huge, all-knowing eyes. Fans liked him in his portrayals of well-known people like ex-New Jersey governor Chris Christie, celebrity chefs Guy Fieri and Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi from the MTV reality show Jersey Shore and even his own characters like the raving Drunk Uncle. Moynihan has done voice work for several animated films, including The Secret Life of Pets as Mel, We Bare Bears as Panda, and Bob’s Burgers as Sam on Fox.
Just before he appears in IF, he’ll be seen in Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story, a Netflix original film starring Melissa McCarthy and James Marsden and written by Jerry Seinfeld. Though their roles have not been discussed, Moynihan and Carell will be joining an impressive lineup of comedic talent in Krasinski’s film. Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag), Fiona Shaw (Petunia Dursley, Harry Potter), Louis Gossett Jr. (Watchmen), Minari Kim (Minions), and Cailey Fleming (The Walking Dead) are among the actors already attached to the project. Since filming on IF has not yet begun, storyline and character specifics are under wraps, but we do know that Krasinski wrote the screenplay from scratch.
According to press materials, “Krasinski’s original notion about a child’s journey to regain their creativity” serves as the film’s basis. After the success of his horror film, fans of Krasinski’s from his time on NBC’s mockumentary The Office (where he directed several episodes) will see a different side of his abilities in the more serious comedy IF. Since his breakthrough with the NBC sitcom, Krasinski has dabbled in various aspects of production, including directing and producing, and has landed parts as diverse as Reed Richards in Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Superman in DC League of Super-Pets, and many others. Krasinski, Seeger, and Andrew Form will produce the picture under their business Sunday Night, while Reynolds will produce under his own company, Maximum Effort (Deadpool franchise). Release dates for theatres showing “If” have been established on November 17, 2023.