Actor-director John Krasinski revealed that he used “emotional blackmail” to convince Blake Lively to join the cast of his new movie, IF, which already included her husband, Ryan Reynolds, as well as other A-list stars like Steve Carrell, Bradley Cooper, and George Clooney. Lively plays a character named Octopuss, a cat who dresses up like an octopus to overcome her fear of water. Krasinski had come up with the idea for the movie almost a decade ago while watching his children play and felt a newfound urgency to complete it during the coronavirus pandemic.
The concept of a world of imaginary friends resonated with Hollywood actors, as Krasinski received “the most ‘yeses’ of my career” for the movie. George Clooney, who was the first person to see Krasinski’s potential as a director, took a role in the film, which meant a lot to Krasinski. Clooney had mentored Krasinski in his early days, and their collaboration on this project was an emotional reunion for the two. Additionally, a video shared by Paramount Pictures captured the emotional reunion of Krasinski and Carrell on set after years of not working together.
Krasinski shared that Clooney had seen his directorial potential before he did and only asked for “10 percent” credit for his mentorship. The emotional speech that Carrell gave Krasinski on set brought tears to the director’s eyes, as Carrell expressed his pride in Krasinski’s journey into filmmaking. IF is set to be released in theaters on Friday, May 17, and Krasinski has expressed his gratitude for the support and enthusiasm he has received from his peers in the industry.
The idea for IF stemmed from Krasinski’s observations of his children playing and disappearing into a world of imagination that he was not invited into as a parent. Seeing their lights dim during the pandemic motivated him to create a movie that would remind children and parents alike of the magic of imagination. The movie, which showcases a world of imaginary friends, aims to bring joy and wonder to audiences while also highlighting the importance of holding onto one’s imagination and creativity.
Krasinski’s ability to bring together a star-studded cast for IF is a testament to his talent and reputation in the industry. The support and mentorship he received from actors like George Clooney and Steve Carrell have been instrumental in his journey from an actor to a director. The emotional and heartfelt moments shared on set during the making of the movie reflect the close bonds that were formed between the cast and crew. As IF prepares for its release, Krasinski is grateful for the opportunity to bring this magical world to life on the big screen.
