Jeff Nichols, the original director ofA Quiet Place: Day One, has revealed what made him leave the project after he had been hired as a writer and director by John Krasinski himself. Unfortunately, due to creative differences, he unexpectedly left the project. After his departure, Paramount Pictures decided to scrap everything and start from zero withwriter/director Michael Sarnoski, the director responsiblefor Nicolas Cage’s 2021 thrillerPig.
A Quiet Place: Day One, which will be released in theaters next month, is a prequel to Krasinski’s horror sci-fi films that tell the story of a family living in a post-apocalyptic world where aliens roam free. They’re ultrasensitive to sound, so noisy humans are perfect prey unless they find a way to live completely sound-free. Nichols had been signed in 2021, and he even wrote a script for the project. The director was mostly known for his participation in genre films likeTake Shelter,Mud, andMidnight Special, and his peculiar style of filmmaking with well-designed and complex characters and exceptional performances.
Duringan interview with The Wrap, Nichols expanded on his participation in the project alongside Krasinski:
“He was a fan of my films and was asking me if I wanted to make this prequel…those movies are pretty good. And I liked what they said about sacrifice and family. It felt thematically in line with some of the stuff I had made. I hatched an idea of how to approach it in a way that I felt comfortable with, that he seemed to like. I was like,I think this is a movie that could get made.”
It’s hard to say this without sounding pretentious but I’ve made enough films at this point in my career, that if I do this, it’s going to become my film… the truth is ‘Quiet Place,’ those are his films. It’s not about ego, it’s about process."
At some point, you realize, it’s never going to be my film. It’s better if I just step away and let some other people do that.
The director is currently promotingThe Bikeriders, which stars Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist , and Jodie Comer. The film tells the story of a motorcycle club called the Vandals, which eventually evolves into a crime organization indulging in all kinds of business during the 1960s. It was released on June 21 and opened topretty decent reviews by criticsand audiences.
A Quiet Place: Day One, a Long-Awaited Apocalyptic Prequel
A Quiet Place: Day One
A Quiet Place: Day One is a spin-off of the A Quiet Place franchise conceived by John Krasinski. The film is set at the beginning of the invasion as humanity scrambles to survive, before the events of the original film, with Lupita Nyong’O leading the cast, directed by Michael Sarnoski.
John Krasinski’sA Quiet PlaceandA Quiet Place Part IIwere two very successful films that made great use of their premise, and made fora fascinating theater experience. They were both blockbusters that forced Paramount to think about how to capitalize with more entries. With creative control completely resting in his hands, Krasinski decided to take the prequel route. Part III of the original franchise still remains a reality:A Quiet Place Part IIIis set to be produced in the future, with Krasinski returning as the director.
A Quiet Place: Day One - Why Isn’t John Krasinski Directing the Movie?
After directing two successful A Quiet Place films, John Krasinski is stepping down as director for the upcoming prequel. Here’s why.
Part II already teased us with a quick look into how everything began with an outstanding opening sequence that sees the Abbotts witnessing the aliens arriving in town. However,A Quiet Place: Day Onewill go further in expanding the origins of such an invasion without centering itself around the family. The movie is one of the most anticipated films of the year, and the prequel is already expected to deliver something big this summer.
A Quiet Place: Day Onestars Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, and Alex Wolff. Djimon Hounsou is the only returning character from the previous films (he’s inA Quiet Place Part II). The film is a spin-off/prequel that explores the first days of the alien invasion in the streets of New York City. Producers include John Krasinski, Michael Bay, Andrew Form, and Brad Fuller.
A Quiet Place: Day Onewill be released in theaters on July 22, 2025.
