‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ Isn’t a Typical Sequel, Director Andy Erwin Says
Michael Foust
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By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
Sequels may be standard fare for Hollywood’s big studios, but for filmmaker Andy Erwin, they’re a tough sell – not necessarily to audiences, but to himself.
Erwin is the chief creative officer at Kingdom Story Company, the production studio behind such faith-based hits as Jesus Revolution, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and Unsung Hero. The company also produced I Can Only Imagine, the 2018 film that chronicled MercyMe frontman Bart Millard’s reconciliation with his abusive father and the writing of a hit song that would go on to reach millions.
So when Erwin was approached with the idea for an I Can Only Imagine sequel, he was not exactly thrilled.
“I was terrified – I didn't know if it would work,” he told Crosswalk Headlines. “I just didn't want to screw up what the first one did, and I didn't want to go back to it if it was a gimmick. I was really skeptical.”
Eventually, though, Erwin’s filmmaking team won him over. I Can Only Imagine 2 (PG) opens in theaters this weekend, picking up years after the first film ends as Millard wrestles with fatherhood and navigates growing friction with his teenage son.
Actor John Michael Finley returns as Millard, while singer Trace Adkins reprises his role as Scott Brickell, the band’s manager. Dennis Quaid appears in flashbacks. Erwin co-directed it alongside Brent McCorkle.
It is Kingdom Story’s first sequel.
“It is this idea of ‘what happens if the happily ever after breaks?’ – what happens after you get everything you think you want, and the crowd goes home, and the applause stops, and life gets hard?” Erwin explained. “That was a message of hope that really, really resonated with me.”
The plot turns when MercyMe is joined on tour by singer Tim Timmons, an optimistic, cheerful personality who stands in contrast to Millard, a low-key guy who is anything but upbeat at this point in his life. Millard soon learns that Timmons’ upbeat persona is genuine, despite a past battle with terminal cancer. Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us, Gilmore Girls) portrays Timmons.
Erwin labeled Timmons the story’s “catalyst.”
“Tim has an amazing story that a lot of people don't know,” Erwin said. “He wakes up every day grateful for another day, and marks an ‘X’ on his wrist with a Sharpie – he's marking off a calendar for a day that he wasn't promised.”
I Can Only Imagine 2, Erwin added, is not a “typical sequel,” and he believes it will catch audiences “off guard.” The film’s central theme, he said, is gratitude.
“This movie is about Bart as a father having to come to terms with his own son, realizing that he feels not prepared, that his dad never taught him how to do his job – and what it results in is this story is gratitude. Gratitude is hope with teeth to it. It's hope that's fought for – and lived in. It’s something that you struggle to find.”
I Can Only Imagine 2 is rated PG for thematic material and some language.
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Photo Credit: ©Kingdom Story
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
