John Krasinski, 44, is a multi-hyphenate. One of his many titles is that of dad to two daughters, Hazel, 10, and Violet, 7, whom he shares with wife Emily Blunt. John’s daughters are a constant source of inspiration.
His film If, which was released in theaters on May 17, 2024, was inspired by his daughters’ experiences growing up and doing less imaginary play during the pandemic. When they asked him hard questions about the uncertain time it “shattered” his heart.
John credits his daughters for giving him the idea for this film. "I made this movie for my kids,” he explained to People. “I've always wanted to make a movie for my kids, but I actually wasn't sure what that movie would look like. I had had the idea about 10 years ago to do something with imaginary friends, but I wasn't quite sure what the take on it would be. And then it was the pandemic that gave me the idea because it was when I saw their lights starting to go out and they started doing fewer and fewer imaginary games, and then they started to let the real world in.”
John understood his daughters were growing up. That does not mean it was easy for him to accept. He was especially impacted when they asked: “Are we going to be OK?” John stated that it “shattered” his heart.
John decided to take action. “And I thought, 'OK, we have to stop and I have to do this movie right now to show them that magical world they created, they can go back anytime they want,’” he explained.
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John included his daughter’s imaginary friends in the film. “The pink alligator Ally, that is Violet’s imaginary friend,” John explained. She lives under the bed and eats all the bad guys while Violet sleeps, which is very pragmatic.
“Hazel’s a very empathetic soul, and we were making s’mores one night, and her marshmallow burst into flames as they tend to do, and she was so destroyed that she had hurt some sort of creature,” John explained. “And I said, ‘Oh, no, no, that’s just his thing. He lights on fire and then he goes out and then he lights on fire and then he goes out.’ And she loved that idea, and so that became her imaginary friend.”
