'I Can Only Imagine 2' Interview: Milo Ventimiglia and More

Moviefone speaks with Milo Ventimiglia and Tim Timmons about 'I Can Only Imagine 2'. "What an honor to know Tim and be able to share his story," Milo said.

(L to R) Milo Ventimiglia and Tim Timmons discuss 'I Can Only Imagine 2'.

Opening in theaters on February 20th is ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’, which was directed by Andrew Erwin (‘American Underdog’) and Brent McCorkle (‘Jesus Revolution’) and serves as a sequel to 2018’s ‘I Can Only Imagine’.

Written by musician Bart Millard, the film stars John Michael Finley (‘Faith of Angels’) as Millard, and Milo Ventimiglia (‘This Is Us’) as musician Tim Timmons, along with Sophie Skelton (‘Outlander’), Arielle Kebbel (‘John Tucker Must Die’), Trace Adkins (‘The Lincoln Lawyer’), and Dennis Quaid (‘The Substance’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Milo Ventimiglia and Tim Timmons about their work on 'I Can Only Imagine 2', Ventimiglia’s first reaction to the screenplay and his approach to playing Tim, and Timmons reaction to having a film made about his life.

Milo Ventimiglia as Tim in 'I Can Only Imagine 2'. Photo: Jake Giles Netter.

Moviefone: To begin with, Milo, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and your approach to playing Tim?

Milo Ventimiglia: I mean it's a different kind of “double G.” It's not the ‘Gilmore Girls’, it's “grief and gratitude”. I mean what an honor to know Tim and be able to share his story through what it is that I do in front of the camera. But we had a beautiful script and a nice pathway to tell this story of grief and gratitude and connection and walking through the fires of life and coming out the other end and being able to still represent love and share love and all of that. I mean for me as an artist, you want to be a part of projects that are going to impact people, make them feel, make them cry, make them laugh, make them think, and then hopefully take to action what you feel and think and cry out in that moment of watching a 90-minute movie. Then, how do you put that into your own life? How do you get through those struggles of life? How do you help somebody in your community in those struggles? Because, as Tim says, life is hard, but if you're carrying that gratitude with the grief and the hard moments, you're doing great. Remember, these things can exist and be there sharing the same space. You can hold onto them and give respect to each of them and still move forward positively with grace. It's just a wonderful reminder. I know, for me, especially in a moment where I needed it, given my life and the loss that my family had this year, but also the great birth we had with our daughter and just tons of things. But what a wonderful gift it has been for me this year.

(L to R) Tim Timmons and Milo Ventimiglia as Tim on the set of 'I Can Only Imagine 2'. Photo Credit: Jake Giles Netter.

MF: Finally, Tim, what was it like for you to have Milo play you in this movie and bring your story of survival to the big screen?

Tim Timmons: I mean I never saw this coming, which I know sounds cliche and cheesy because the movie is about this, but my goal was just to wake up. They gave me five years to live 25 years ago, and I still have tumors on my liver wearing out my heart. But this bald guy got to wake up again today. So, when I'm sober enough just in life to live with that awareness, waking up again becomes the gift. Literally the gift that I get is that I get to wake up again. If I get up again today, I get to hang with you and Milo today. Tomorrow, if I wake up again, what else could happen?

'I Can Only Imagine 2' opens in theaters on February 20th.

What is the plot of 'I Can Only Imagine 2'?

After the breakout success of the song "I Can Only Imagine," MercyMe's Bart Millard (John Michael Finley) is living the dream—sold-out arenas, a devoted fan base, and a thriving career. But behind the spotlight, Bart's past threatens the family he's built, especially the fragile bond with his son, Sam (Sammy Dell). When hopeful newcomer Tim Timmons (Milo Ventimiglia) joins the band for their biggest tour yet, he unknowingly brings a renewed gratitude to Bart's life through their unlikely friendship. Bart soon discovers that Tim carries hardships—and secrets—of his own, forcing him to face his past and repair his relationships with Sam and his wife, Shannon (Sophie Skelton), before fame costs him what matters most.