For his directorial debut, Michael Sarnoski delivered an unexpectedly poignant narrative in Pig, where Nicolas Cage’s character embarks on a heartfelt quest to find his stolen pig. Sarnoski is now set to take on a larger-scale project with A Quiet Place: Day One, a prequel to John Krasinski’s acclaimed series about an invasion by sound-sensitive aliens. This new installment shifts the setting from small-town America, as seen in A Quiet Place: Part II, to the bustling metropolis of New York City, presenting a fresh and dynamic backdrop for the apocalyptic events of Day One.
John Krasinski specifically chose Sarnoski for this ambitious prequel due to the nuanced storytelling in Pig. “When [Krasinski] first approached me, he said, ‘Can you bring some of that Pig touch to the A Quiet Place universe?’” Sarnoski shared during a recent interview with Empire. Krasinski wanted a director who could introduce new elements to the world he created, blending the existing tension with fresh, subtle emotional layers. “Finding those differences was exciting. It wasn’t something that we leaned away from,” Sarnoski explained.
While Krasinski’s A Quiet Place films focus on the Abbott family navigating an alien apocalypse, Day One will introduce new characters, including Lupita Nyong’o’s Samira and Joseph Quinn’s Eric, who are strangers forced to cooperate during the chaotic onset of the invasion. This new perspective aims to explore the dynamics between people who lack pre-existing bonds. “In the first two, family was really important,” Sarnoski noted. “I wanted to explore what the end of the world looked like for people that didn’t have an established relationship, or a reason to care about each other.”
With a new cast, setting, and genre elements, A Quiet Place: Day One represents a bold step for Sarnoski. “It’s something I learned on Pig as well: don’t be scared of taking big swings and trying new things,” he said. Embracing the challenge, Sarnoski approached the project with a fearless attitude. “I could have gone into this just terrified, but I decided to just give it a shot, hope for the best, and be daring with stuff.” Clearly, Sarnoski is ready to bring a fresh voice to this beloved franchise.
