John Krasinski will be in the director’s chair for the movie If with his old co-star from The Office, Steve Carell, featured in a lead role.

Former The Office co-stars John Krasinski and Steve Carell are getting back together to work on a new project. Krasinski is set to direct If, an upcoming movie in the works at Paramount that’s set for a 2023 release. Carell will star in a leading role alongside fellow A-lister Ryan Reynolds, and given all of the talent that’s involved, we can be sure this movie will draw a lot of interest when it arrives next year.

Perhaps Carell is anticipating this project more than anyone. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight to promote his new movie, the animated feature Minions: The Rise of Gru, Carell was asked about reuniting with Krasinski for If. The actor says that production will begin very soon and that he’s very much “anticipating” getting back together with Krasinski to create something new. He also jokes that he will push Krasinski to his limits. As Carell puts it:

“Well, I haven’t started working on the film with him yet, but I can’t wait. And I am anticipating, just joy. He’s a great director, so, I’ll put him through his paces. You know? I’ll make him work for it. I might be one of those persnickety actors who won’t come out of my trailer. Yeah, you think you’ve hired somebody that is a friend, but you got that wrong!”

Related: Minions: The Rise of Gru Sets New Record to Win Holiday Weekend at Box Office

If Reunites the Stars of The Office

News of If getting made first was reported on back in January. Alongside Steve Carell and Ryan Reynolds, the film will also star Alan Kim, Cailey Fleming, Louis Gossett Jr., Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Fiona Shaw. No details have been revealed about the plot but it is said to come from an original idea by Krasinski, who is writing and directing. Krasinski will also produce via Sunday Night with partners Allyson Seeger and Andrew Form, as well as Ryan Reynolds via Maximum Effort and George Dewey.

While John Krasinski is very well known for his acting after rising to fame on The Office, he has since found luck in the director’s chair as well. He co-wrote and directed the acclaimed horror film A Quiet Place in which he also co-starred with real-life wife Emily Blunt. He would go on to direct the sequel of that film as well with A Quiet Place Part II releasing in 2020. Krasinski still continues to act and even had a special appearance in the hit film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.


In recent years, Carell has had memorable roles on other shows like The Morning Show and Space Force. He will soon appear in the FX on Hulu limited series The Patient which arrives in August. In recent years, Carell has also appeared in films like Beautiful Boy, Vice, Welcome to Marwen, and Irresistible. His new movie Minions: The Rise of Gru just premiered in theaters to immense success.

Minions: The Rise of Gru is now playing in movie theaters. If does not yet have an official release date.