Arielle Kebbel, Joshua Bassett, Sophie Skelton, and Sammy Dell have joined the cast of I Can Only Imagine 2, the sequel to the 2018 faith-based film from Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company. They will star alongside Milo Ventimiglia and returning cast members John Finley, Trace Adkins, and Dennis Quaid. Production is set to begin in April in Nashville.
The film continues the story of Bart Millard, played by Finley, the lead singer of the Christian band MercyMe. Kebbel will portray Hilary Timmons, the wife of Ventimiglia’s Tim Timmons. Bassett has been cast as Bart’s brother-in-law Christopher, while Skelton will take over the role of Bart’s wife, Shannon. Dell, making his theatrical debut, will play Bart’s son, Sam.
Directors Andrew Erwin and Brent McCorkle will helm the film, with McCorkle also writing the screenplay. The producing team includes Kevin Downes, Andrew Erwin, Cindy Bond, Bart Millard, Daryl Lefever, and Joshua Walsh. “We couldn’t be more thrilled with the level of talent that has come together to continue this extraordinary story,” Downes said.
Erwin added, “The first I Can Only Imagine film was such a rare magical moment, and with Brent’s script, this new film will complete Bart’s journey in such a satisfying way. It feels like it was always meant to be.”
The original film, which focused on Millard’s relationship with his father and the inspiration behind MercyMe’s hit song I Can Only Imagine, grossed over $83 million at the domestic box office in 2018.
Kebbel currently stars on the Fox series Rescue: HI-Surf and has appeared in Ballers, Midnight Texas, John Tucker Must Die, The Grudge 2, and Fifty Shades Freed. She is represented by Independent Artist Group, Untitled Entertainment, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox.
Bassett, known for High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, won a Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Best Original Song in 2023 and received another nomination this year. He released his debut studio album, The Golden Years, last year. He is represented by UTA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein.
Skelton stars as Bree Fraser McKenzie on Starz’s Outlander. She is represented by Independent Talent Group, Alchemy Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen.
Dell’s credits include the Disney+ film Trevor: The Musical and appearances on Bull and Law & Order: SVU. He is represented by Take 3 Talent Agency, Rebel Creative Group, and Vainshtein Law, P.C.
