‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ Looks Beyond the Hit Song

from Our Editors

1 min read ⭑

Milo Ventimiglia as ‘Tim Timmons’

“I Can Only Imagine 2” quietly extends the story first told in the 2018 film about MercyMe’s Bart Millard. Directed by Andrew Erwin and Brent McCorkle and arriving in theaters February 20, the sequel follows Bart (John Michael Finley) as life on the road collides with growing strain at home and a widening gap between him and his son.

Rather than retracing the first film’s emotional beats, this chapter centers on the story behind MercyMe’s song “Even If” and the personal trials that shaped it. The focus shifts from a father-son redemption story to the complicated work of parenting, marriage and perseverance after success.

Milo Ventimiglia joins the cast as singer-songwriter Tim Timmons, whose own experience with suffering and faith intersects with Bart’s journey on tour. Ventimiglia called it “an honor to know Tim and be able to share his story,” noting that the film’s attention to “grief and gratitude” guided his performance.

Sophie Skelton, Dennis Quaid and Trace Adkins round out the ensemble, grounding the film in familiar relationships and steady performances.

The result isn’t a bigger spectacle, but a more reflective continuation — one that trades surprise for honesty and stays close to the everyday tensions that shape a life of faith.