Alex Wolff and Djimon Hounsou Discuss Their Journey Through A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE

Djimon Hounsou as "Henri", Lupita Nyong'o as "Samira" and Alex Wolff as "Reuben" in A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE | Paramount Pictures

By Shannon McGrew

In A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE, the third installment in the A Quiet Place series, a young woman named Sam (Lupita Nyong'o) finds herself trapped in New York City during the early stages of an invasion by alien creatures with ultra-sensitive hearing.

For the release of A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE, Creepy Kingdom's Shannon McGrew spoke with actor Alex Wolff (Hereditary), who plays Reuben, a hospice nurse turned friend to Sam who convinces her to attend a marionette show in the city, and Djimon Hounsou (Guardians of the Galaxy), who reprises his role as Henri, a patron at the same marionette show that Sam and Reuben are at during the events that unfold. During their chat, they discussed working with director Michael Sarnoski and the creative freedom that was allowed.

Hello Alex and Djimon! It's such a pleasure to speak with you both. For you, Alex, what was it like to join the cast of this film, especially having worked with Michael on Pig? Djimon, what was it like to return to the franchise to develop your character further?

Alex Wolff: I felt really lucky. I loved the first two movies and loved [Djimon] in the second movie so much. There's a burden to joining [the franchsie], but I think Michael has this unbelievable, otherworldly gift to make everyone feel very relaxed and make everything feel like you're free to make mistakes. I think that's why Michael and I work very well together; I think I tend to make a lot of mistakes. We're a great combination in that way, and we're probably going to make a lot more movies together if he'll have me.

Djimon Hounsou: It's a great achievement from Michael to keep the character-driven narratives still alive, like in the first and second ones. It was gratifying to appear in DAY ONE to see how my character survived and ended up on that island in A Quiet Place Part II. It was quite pleasant to be back. At first, I was... it wasn't going to be John Krasinski anymore, the original architect of the film, so I wasn't sure what this interpretation would be of that world. I was quite nervous about it.

Alex Wolff: Then they said Alex Wolff was attached to it, and you were like, sign me up today! [Laughs]

Djimon Hounsou: [Laugh] Lupita was also attached to it. We just all trusted our director, Michael, and he did an amazing job.

In the film, pizza becomes a symbol of normalcy. A symbol of hope. That last thing you wish to have that will make the harsh journey worth having. For you both, what would be the one thing you would go through hell on earth for?

Alex Wolff: I probably would have done anything to be in the movie. 35 auditions. At the 36th, I would have to draw the line but I would have done 35 auditions for Michael.

Djimon Hounsou: I would go through hell to live out my dream. Unfortunately, with pizza, you are limited. You're done with the pizza in a minute, and then you must ask yourself, what's next?

A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE is now playing in theaters.