I Can Only Imagine 2 is a 2026 faith-based drama film releasing in theaters on February 20, 2026, as the sequel to the 2018 hit I Can Only Imagine.

I Can Only Imagine 2 (2026) – Quick Scoop

What the 2026 movie is about

I Can Only Imagine 2 continues the true-story journey of MercyMe’s lead singer Bart Millard, now shown at the peak of his career with sold‑out arenas, a huge fanbase, and a seemingly “perfect” life on stage. Offstage, Bart’s unresolved past and emotional wounds begin to threaten the family he has built, especially his fragile relationship with his son, Sam.

When newcomer Tim Timmons joins MercyMe for their biggest tour so far, his arrival brings both fresh gratitude and unexpected tension, pushing Bart to confront buried pain, secrets, and what success is really costing him at home. The story is inspired by the real‑life background of MercyMe’s song Even If, and leans into themes of faith, suffering, gratitude, grief, and finding God “in the fire” of life’s hardest moments.

Key facts at a glance

  • Title: I Can Only Imagine 2
  • Release date (theaters): February 20, 2026
  • Early worship screenings: February 14, 2026, in select theaters/church‑style events
  • Genre: Faith‑driven family drama, musical/biographical elements
  • Studio/partners: Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company, continuing from the first film’s team
  • Core theme song focus: Story background tied to the MercyMe song Even If, with trailers also highlighting the classic hymn It Is Well with My Soul.

Main cast and crew

  • Bart Millard: John Michael Finley
  • Tim Timmons: Milo Ventimiglia
  • Shannon (Bart’s wife): Sophie Skelton
  • Sam (Bart’s son): Sammy Dell
  • Supporting: Dennis Quaid, Trace Adkins, Arielle Kebbel, Joshua Bassett (in some listings)
  • Directors: Andrew Erwin and Brent McCorkle
  • Writer: Brent McCorkle

Mini look at the emotional arc

  • Bart is successful but privately struggling with being a present, healthy father and husband.
  • The tour is framed as a “make‑or‑break” season, both professionally and personally.
  • Tim’s friendship forces Bart to face old hurts and spiritual questions instead of hiding behind his platform.
  • The movie leans into the tension of gratitude and grief existing together, and what genuine worship looks like in pain, not just triumph.

How it connects to the 2018 film

The 2018 I Can Only Imagine focused on Bart’s childhood trauma, his difficult relationship with his father, and how the song I Can Only Imagine was born from that healing. The 2026 sequel shifts the lens to Bart as a husband, father, and famous Christian artist, asking what happens after the “big miracle” moment when real life keeps being messy.

Where the first film centers on forgiveness of a parent, the sequel explores how someone who has been healed once can still wrestle with fear, burnout, and family pressure later in life. For fans of the original, this reads as a “next chapter” rather than a reboot, pushing the story into the realities of sustained faith under the spotlight.

What people are talking about (trending angles)

Early online chatter and trailer reactions are centering on a few things:

  • The emotional father–son storyline and whether it will hit as hard as the first movie’s father arc.
  • Milo Ventimiglia’s role and how his character’s own hidden struggles may parallel Bart’s, making it more than a simple “mentor” or sidekick figure.
  • The worship‑event marketing approach, including “Early Access Worship Screenings” timed around February 14, which lines up with how faith‑based films have become more event‑style releases.

In faith‑movie forums and comment sections, viewers are already speculating about:

  1. How much of the plot sticks very closely to MercyMe’s real history versus dramatized elements for the big screen.
  1. Whether the film will feature extended performance sequences of Even If and It Is Well with My Soul, and how those moments will be staged as worship “set pieces.”
  1. If this could open the door to more films in a small “MercyMe universe” following different seasons of the band’s journey.

Quick HTML table for fast reference

Detail Info
Movie title I Can Only Imagine 2 (2026)
Franchise Sequel to 2018's I Can Only Imagine
Theatrical release February 20, 2026
Early screenings February 14, 2026 (worship screenings)
Main focus Bart Millard's life as a father, husband, and artist after fame, and the cost of not dealing with past pain
Key themes Faith under pressure, family, forgiveness, gratitude and grief, worship in suffering
Lead actors John Michael Finley, Milo Ventimiglia, Sophie Skelton, Sammy Dell, Dennis Quaid, Trace Adkins, Arielle Kebbel
Directors Andrew Erwin, Brent McCorkle
Writer Brent McCorkle
Based on True-story continuation of MercyMe's Bart Millard, especially around the song "Even If"
Distributor / partners Lionsgate & Kingdom Story Company
**TL;DR:** I Can Only Imagine 2 is a 2026 big‑screen return to Bart Millard’s life, focusing on how fame, family, and unresolved pain collide—and how faith and worship look when you are deep in the struggle, not past it.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.