A Quiet Place II continues the iconic story of its predecessor when it arrives in theaters on May 28. After the death of her father (played by writer and director John Krasinski), young Regan (Millicent Simmonds) has to step up and become a pillar of support for her mother and siblings in the apocalyptic world they inhabit.
Simmonds shared her joy at returning to the character with Screen Rant, and previewed some of the intense sequences she had to shoot.
This movie is intense and amazing, and your performance is brilliant. Can you talk to me about how this differs from the first time around for you?
Millicent Simmonds: Thanks for saying all of those wonderful things. This was very dynamic, physical, and a lot more stressful - both on a physical and emotional level compared to the first one. That was the main difference.
Can you talk to me about how John has grown as a director from the first time around to the second?
Millicent Simmonds: I think he still brings his creative vision, his curiosity, and he always develops really good relationships. He's very open, both in his heart and his mind, and he's seeking for a way to tell that story. I think that's the same.
Regan goes through a traumatic experience in the first movie with the loss of her brother and now father. Can you talk about how that affects her in the second film?
Millicent Simmonds: Well, the backstory pushes Regan now to become an adult, and she realizes she can't be a child anymore. There's a lot of pressure on her. And also, she's wanting to step up to her father's footsteps. Does she have the confidence in herself to do that and to sustain it? Can she remain true to herself and her beliefs?
The world of A Quiet Place has grown a lot in the second film. Would you like to see this continue in further films or in a series?
Millicent Simmonds: I don't know. I don't know about a television series. I don't know how it would actually work with this kind of story, but it would be interesting to see what would happen in that world.
Regan takes on a lot of responsibility that her father left behind. Can you talk to me about the journey that she goes on, and the responsibility she takes for her family?
Millicent Simmonds: Yeah, she now has to grow up. She has to be confident in herself, and she realizes that her confidence has a large influence on her family. And that also means that she has to be able to communicate and not just think about herself, but think about herself in relation to others and everyone else.
What were some of the biggest challenges with the film? I know you said there was a lot more action involved this time.
Millicent Simmonds: Yes, there was a lot. It was a very physically demanding job. Fortunately, I'm still young, so it wasn't too hard to do.
