(Photo: Erwin Brothers Entertainment)
The anticipated sequel to the faith-based hit “I Can Only Imagine” will now debut earlier than expected. Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company have announced that “I Can Only Imagine 2” will hit theaters on February 20, 2026, instead of the initially planned March 20 release.
Continuing the compelling narrative of MercyMe’s frontman Bart Millard, portrayed by John Finley, the film is currently being shot in Nashville, Tennessee. The cast features Milo Ventimiglia, Arielle Kebbel, and Joshua Bassett, among others, with Trace Adkins and Dennis Quaid reprising their roles.
The directing reins are held by Andrew Erwin and Brent McCorkle, who also penned the screenplay. Producers include notable names such as Kevin Downes and Bart Millard himself.
The original “I Can Only Imagine” was a surprise box office sensation in 2018, grossing over $83 million domestically by exploring Millard’s challenging past and his father’s faith-driven transformation. The film also highlighted the creation of the chart-topping single, “I Can Only Imagine.”
Kevin Downes, a producer, shared insights about the sequel, focusing on MercyMe’s journey post-“I Can Only Imagine.” He revealed that the film will explore their second major hit, “Even If,” stating, “The song that we focus on starts with ‘Imagine,’ so you’re going to get all the feels of the height of ‘I Can Only Imagine’ when it was released.”
Downes expressed confidence in the sequel’s potential impact, saying, “We know the film is going to be good. I can’t wait. It’s going to be great.”
“Even If,” inspired by Millard’s personal challenges, particularly his son Sam’s battle with diabetes, became another significant hit for MercyMe. Millard previously shared, “My son, Sam, is 15 years old, and he’s been a diabetic since he was 2. When you’re a parent of a child with any kind of chronic illness, these things don’t go away.”
Reflecting on the original film’s success, Millard praised the filmmakers for their authentic portrayal of a redemption story. “It’s kind of scary making a faith-based film. I didn’t want it to be low-hanging fruit or kind of a corny movie, and I think they did a really great job of capturing the emotion,” he remarked.
The sequel’s announcement follows the success of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” directed by Dallas Jenkins, which earned over $32 million domestically. The film’s performance exceeded expectations, tripling its budget.
At a recent premiere, Andy Erwin emphasized Kingdom Story Company’s dedication to creating films centered on hope and redemption. “Redemption is at the core of everything we do; it has to be about the idea of redemption that promotes hope,” he stated. He highlighted that such stories appeal to both faith-based and broader audiences.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
