A Quieter Place? The Quietest Place? The sequel to 2018's A Quiet Place is officially happening, under the more conservative title A Quiet Place: Part II – and with production underway, here's everything you need to know.
What is A Quiet Place?
The original A Quiet Place is a low-key, high-concept sleeper hit from 2018, directed by and starring John Krasinski, and co-starring Emily Blunt. Krasinski also co-wrote the film with Bryan Woods and Scott Beck. More tense sci-fi thriller than horror as such, it took place in a world that has been overrun by deadly creatures that are highly sensitive to noise, meaning that the surviving humans are forced to live in silence, communicating with sign language. The film's story focused on the Abbott family and their nerve-jangling fight for survival (including their attempt to deliver a baby on the down-low in a basement full of sharp objects).
Who is directing A Quiet Place: Part 2?
Initially reluctant, John Krasinski was ultimately persuaded ("Jedi mind-tricked", as he described it) to make a sequel by Woods, Beck and Platinum Dunes producers Brad Fuller, Andrew Form and Michael Bay. Krasinski also seems to have sole credit on the screenplay this time.
Who stars in A Quiet Place: Part 2?
Emily Blunt returns as Evelyn Abbott, with Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe also back as her kids as Regan and Marcus. New to the cast this time are Cillian Murphy and Brian Tyree Henry. There are no solid details on either of the newcomers yet, but reports suggest Murphy plays a mysterious man who attaches himself to the Abbott family.
What is A Quiet Place: Part 2's story?
Everything is pretty much under wraps at the moment, but there have been a couple of hints at the narrative direction the sequel might take.
Back when he was still just musing on what the film might be, Krasinski explained that he was more interested in further exploring the world of A Quiet Place, rather than revising the same characters per se. "The beauty of it is... the expansion," he said. "Most sequels are about the return of a villain or a hero, and you have to build a totally new story around your favourite hero or favourite villain. (With this sequel) we actually have the world to deal with. The world is actually the star of the movie. So, this set of circumstances – how the rest of the world is dealing with this apocalyptic tragedy – is the fun of it then. That’s what drew me back."
Brian Tyree Henry echoed that a few months later as production neared, also hinting that there'd likely be some explanation of where the monsters came from. “I really think that what we’ll do is we’ll see more of that family continuing to survive and finding out that they’re not the only ones,” he said. “And I think that we’re also going to get a few answers to the origin of where and how this whole thing happened. I think that people want to know that. But I think you’re just going to see another side of it… more of humanity that survived this thing in this next story.”
According to studio Paramount's press release, the sequel takes place two years on from the original.
When is A Quiet Place: Part 2 released?
A Quiet Place: Part 2 has a tentative release date of 21 March 2020 – so expect to find out much more in the coming months.