Actor and filmmaker John Krasinski has been spotted around Western New York this week, scouting potential locations for a sequel to his hit 2018 thriller "A Quiet Place."Krasinski was photographed by bystanders in Akron and Olcott on Wednesday. Photos, including some taken at the Candy Apple Cafe in Akron, made the rounds on social media.
Buffalo Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark won't call the high-profile filming a done deal, but he says he is optimistic.
"It's still in the planning phases, but I'm feeling pretty good about it," Clark said.
Clark says Krasinski and his crew were impressed by much of what they've seen. He says many locations local residents may take for granted are viewed as ideal film settings by visiting producers.
"We have these great architectural landmarks, whether its an old steel mill or a small town, and we take it for granted. But they see this stuff and they realize, 'Wow, this is cinematic gold,'" Clark said.
Krasinski has a familiarity with Western New York after shooting scenes from an episode of the television series "The Office" on the Maid of The Mist boat tour in Niagara Falls in 2009.
"A Quiet Place," which tells the story of a family trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by bloodthirsty creatures who rely only on sound, was a major hit for Krasinski, grossing more than $188 million domestically and $340 million worldwide. It starred Krasinski and his wife, actress Emily Blunt.