Here’s How John Krasinski Got Ryan Reynolds AND George Clooney Onboard For ‘IF’

During a recent appearance on ‘The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon,’ John Krasinski divulged the secrets behind roping in some of Hollywood’s biggest names to lend their voices to his upcoming animated film, IF. The renowned actor, best known for his role in ‘The Office,’ engaged in a lively chat with the show’s host, shedding light on his impressive cast roster including Ryan Reynolds, George Clooney, Steve Carell and more.

Krasinski gleefully shared with Fallon that securing commitments from these A-listers marked a pinnacle in his career, boasting that the nods came quicker than a flash in the notoriously slow-moving film industry. He remarked, “They all love the idea of imagination, going back to your childhood.”

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The conversation kicked off with Krasinski recounting how Bradley Cooper ended up voicing an ice cube character in the film. Though Cooper wasn’t initially on his radar, Krasinski mused, “In my head, I was like, ‘He’s from Philly and he’s a little bummed to be living in Arizona.'”

Fallon then quizzed Krasinski on how he convinced Blake Lively, wife of Ryan Reynolds, to join the project. Krasinski revealed that Lively portrays a cat overcoming her aquaphobia by dressing as an octopus, adding humorously that he resorted to “emotional blackmail” by insisting everyone was on board, including her husband.

The discussion didn’t stop there, as Fallon probed Krasinski about his longtime pal George Clooney’s involvement. The two actors, friends since their collaboration on ‘Leatherheads’ in 2008, reunited for ‘IF,’ with Clooney voicing the character of the Spaceman. Krasinski teased, “That’s his character from ‘Gravity’ in my head—that he’s still just floating around.”

IF boasts a star-studded lineup including Emily Blunt, Steve Carell, Matt Damon, Jon Stewart, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Maya Rudolph and more. Krasinski revealed that the film’s inspiration stemmed from wanting to create something meaningful for his and Blunt’s daughters. Despite harbouring the idea for a decade, he only started penning the script shortly before the onset of COVID-19, driven by the desire for his daughters to experience a tale where they could be anything they wished.

‘IF’ is set to hit theatres on 17th May.