By Kayla DeKraker
Christian artist Tim Timmons and THIS IS US star Milo Ventimiglia bonded throughout the process of creating I CAN ONLY IMAGINE 2.
The sequel to 2018’s I CAN ONLY IMAGINE picks up where its predecessor left off. MercyMe’s Bart Millard (John Michael Finley) is enjoying his newfound fame, “But behind the spotlight, Bart’s past threatens the family he’s built, especially the fragile bond with his son, Sam (Sammy Dell).”
“When hopeful newcomer Tim Timmons (Milo Ventimiglia, THIS IS US) joins the band for their biggest tour yet, he unknowingly brings a renewed gratitude to Bart’s life through their unlikely friendship,” the synopsis reads. “Bart soon discovers that Tim carries hardships—and secrets—of his own, forcing him to face his past and repair his relationships with Sam and his wife, Shannon (Sophie Skelton), before fame costs him what matters most.”
Timmons and Ventimiglia reflected on their friendship and its impact on how Ventimiglia played the singer’s emotional story.
Related: I CAN ONLY IMAGINE 2 Cast Reveals Movie’s Inspiring Message: You’re ‘Not Alone’
“One of my favorite parts of the movie is actually becoming friends with Milo and our relationship,” Timmons told Movieguide®. “So to have somebody who lives what I want to live in life, embodies that in life, for him to play me was such an honor.”
He added, “There are some really powerful parts, even watching myself deal with my cancer, that when you’re in the middle of your cancer, like I still am, I don’t have a lot of compassion and empathy for myself. But watching him do that and play me, I was like, ‘Oh, Tim, you’ve gone through some fun.’ So that was like, that was another honor and a gift.”
The “beautiful” script initially drew Ventimiglia to the project, but he ended up deepening his character through his friendship with Timmons.
“There was a beautiful script and a part that was so giving of love and had so much grace in light of the grief that he was experiencing through his cancer,” he said. “But then getting to know Tim and how his outpouring of love, it was just, it was jumping off of the page to begin with. Then get to getting to know him, just, you know, the cup kind of runneth over.”
Ventimiglia said that playing the part was easy after spending time with Timmons.
“I just had to let my friend that I soaked up live life on camera, and you know, through all the little quirks and things like that that I picked up watching him,” he explained.
He wanted to portray Timmons’ “grace and goodness,” adding that “there’s a real-life human being also offering strength and love. [It] is just it’s a beautiful mashup of so many different things.”
“I’m just grateful, just grateful to have been a part of it,” Ventimiglia concluded.
Timmons helped co-write MercyMe’s hit song “Even If,” which the movie took its inspiration from. His website explains that after being “Diagnosed with incurable cancer over two decades ago, Tim has turned his journey into a catalyst for songs that point people toward practicing life with Jesus every day.”
His story’s on-screen debut will certainly encourage people’s faith. It’s touched him, too. He admitted on Instagram that he “bawled like a baby” watching Ventimiglia portray his cancer journey.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE 2 debuts in theaters on Feb. 20, 2026.
Read Next: I CAN ONLY IMAGINE 2 Is Personal for Director Andrew Erwin
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