John Krasinski Shares Sweet Story of How His Kids Inspired Latest Film

John Krasinski never wants his home to become a quiet place. 

In fact, The Office alum is happiest when his and Emily Blunt's two daughters Hazel, 10, and Violet, 7, are loudly playing make believe—which partially inspired John's newest film endeavor IF, which stands for "imaginary friends."

"I would watch my kids disappear every day into this magical that Emily and I aren't invited into," John told E! News during IF's New York premiere May 13. "And it was COVID, because I saw their lights starting to dwindle. I could see they were playing fewer and fewer imaginary games, and they started asking big questions and they were letting the world in."

He continued, "I said, 'Emily oh my god, that's the definition of growing up. They're deciding whether or not they should let go of childhood.' And I went, 'No. You don't have to make that decision. That magical world you created is there for you always, you can always go back.'" (For more from the IF premiere, tune into E! News tonight May 14 at 11 p.m.)

In fact, celebrating worlds and friends—both real and imaginary—has become fun for John's entire family. 

"I literally just found out this weekend that my dad had an imaginary friend—we hadn't even talked about it yet," the 44-year-old revealed. "I was like, 'Dad what? You know I've been making this.' He was like, 'I've been waiting for this moment to tell you.'"

But while IF was a kind of homage to John's daughters—and one they're sure to love—Emily has previously shared how Hazel and Violet don't often like to watch their parents on the big screen, even when the content is age appropriate. 

"They've seen Mary Poppins and Jungle Cruise," the Oppenheimer actress told E! News in November 2022, "and they've seen some of The Office, which they liked a lot. They don't really want to watch us on screen. They've got that ownership of us as parents."

She joked, "They're not like running to see me in a movie, which keeps you humble."

For more of Emily and John's sweet journey to parenthood, keep reading.  

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski met in 2008, where John says that it was love at first sight.

On a visit to The Ellen Degeneres Show, he said, "I met her and I was so nervous. I was like, 'Oh god, I think I'm going to fall in love with her.' As I shook her hand I went, ‘I like you.'"

The couple—who wed in 2010—make an appearance in 2013 at the Critics' Choice Awards.

In May 2013, Blunt channels her inner character from The Devil Wears Prada alongside her husband as they party away at the Met Gala.

Too cute! The lovely couple only have eyes for one another at a New York screening for Krasinski's film, The Hollars', in Aug. 2016.

John supports Emily at the 2017 SAG Awards, where she was nominated for her role in The Girl On The Train. He shared this adorable shot to Instagram captioning it, "So proud of this nominee!"

Moments later, the duo hits the red carpet looking absolutely stunning.

The two share a look of love at the 2017 BAFTA Awards.

Blunt and Krasinski look as cute as can be at the Time 100 Gala in April 2018.

The stylish pair are caught hand-in-hand in New York City during the summer of 2018.

In Oct. 2018, the couple celebrate their movie A Quiet Place by catching a private screening of their film.

We loved seeing the duo encouraging their fans to vote in the 2018 midterms.

John supports Emily at the premiere of Mary Poppins Returns in Los Angeles in Nov. 2018. The adorable duo hold hands as they pose for pictures together on the carpet.

The two turn heads at the 2019 Critics' Choice Awards.

The dynamic duo look stunning while attending the 2019 SAG Awards.

Before heading to the 2019 SAG Awards, Krasinski uploaded this sweet selfie to his Instagram.

The two appear at the 2019 SAG Awards, where the actress won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.

The couple enjoy a screening of Fighting With My Family in New York in February 2019.

The couple poses while at the SXSW Festival in Austin where A Quiet Place—in which Blunt stars and Krasinski acts and directs—premiered.

The pair look gorgeous at the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Jan. 2019. Blunt was nominated for her lead role in Mary Poppins Returns.

The two wear matching tuxes at the 2019 Writers Guild of America Awards.

The stars appear at the 19th Annual AFI Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in Jan. 2019.

The two are all smiles at the 2020 premiere of their movie.

Krasinski watches as his wife poses for pics at the 2023 SAG Awards.

The pair bring their daughters Hazel, 9, and Violet, 7, to the 2023 US Open, marking a rare public sighting of the family all together.

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