What’s going on in the world of Paramount’s “A Quiet Place” franchise? Well, despite a successful “A Quiet Place II” released early in 2022—or at least early in one of the first pandemic eases of the year, which meant it was reasonably successful at the box office—its spinoff has lost momentum. Initially set for a March 2023 release date with Jeff Nichols (“Midnight Special,” “Loving “) at the helm, the filmmaker eventually butted heads with Paramount on the creative direction of the film and abandoned the project, leaving that date in doubt. Some good news has arrived, however.
READ MORE: Jeff Nichols Departs’ A Quiet Place’ Spinoff Film To Work On His New Sci-Fi Film
Michael Sarnoski, the director of 2021’s “Pig,” which featured an acclaimed Nicolas Cage performance, is now getting behind the director’s chair of the film, according to Deadline. The hiring of Sarnoski is notable for a few reasons. While he does have experience in shorts and TV, “Pig” was the filmmaker’s directorial debut (and it’s nothing to sneeze at that he bagged Cage for his first feature). Entrusting him with a big blockbuster without previous experience like this must mean he’s had a perfect pitch that has impressed the Paramount suits.
Not much is known about the film other than it won’t be a proper “A Quiet Place III” sequel, telling the story of the family led by Emily Blunt in the John Krasinski-helmed main franchise. For several months before deciding to direct ‘AQPII,’ Krasinski discussed the strong possibilities of a franchise and other stories told with the ‘Quiet Place’ universe, i.e., these aliens are all over the earth and these stories about make-shift families and communities trying to survive their attack could be told all over the globe and the U.S.
It is known that the original idea for the film is based on a concept of Krasinski, but it’s unclear who is writing the script. Deadline adds this interesting detail about Krasinski’s interest in the “Pig” director. “Krasinski was quick to put Sarnoski on the shortlist of directors to take a meeting for the project. While insiders say Sarnoski’s vision for the film was still his own and different from what Krasinski had done with the first two, he still gave a pitch that fit the tone of the world they had created and felt he was the perfect fit for their next installment.” Maybe this means he’ll write it himself.
“A Quiet Place Part II” grossed nearly $300 million at the box office last year, not bad for COVID numbers, and as mentioned, Sarnoski’s “Pig” was a massive hit with critics last year. It’s on our list of the Best Films of 2021, as voted by over two dozen writers and contributors, and Cage has found himself in the awards conversation due to his muted and nuanced performance.
No new date is mentioned, and for this scale, it’ll have to head into production this year if it hopes to come out in 2023.