How John Krasinski Pays Tribute to Tina Turner — and His Mom — in His Movie IF (Exclusive)

John Krasinki thinks Tina Turner is, well, just the best.

The actor, writer and director, 44, covers the late icon’s 1984 hit “Better Be Good to Me” in multiple scenes of his new film IFa fantastic story about a 12-year-old girl (Cailey Fleming) who can see other children’s imaginary friends.

The combination of live and animated films stars Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds, and the voices of George Clooney, Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Matt Damon and many others are everywhere.

Krasinski told PEOPLE that he wanted to use the music of Turner, who died last year on May 24 at the age of 83, to pay tribute to the singer, but also to his mother, Mary, who remains a big fan of her music.

“Tina Turner was one of my mom’s favorites, she’s still one of her favorites,” says Krasinski, who grew up in Massachusetts. “My mum has a great sense of music and we always listened to loads of different stuff, but I vividly remember dancing in the kitchen to Tina Turner.”

Tina Turner in 1997.

Getty

John Krasinski tells how his children’s fictional friends inspired a family film IF (Exclusive)

“I just remember Tina Turner being such a big deal to me. “I was a big Tina Turner fan, so I thought, ‘I should put that on for my mom,'” he continues.

In the film, a younger version of the character Bea (Audrey Hoffman) dances in her house to the song, a scene Krasinski calls “beautiful.” Later, Bea joins a crowd of imaginary friends for an elaborate dance sequence alongside actress Ari Groover who plays Tina Turner herself.

Cailey Fleming and imaginary friends dance with Tina Turner in the movie ‘If’.

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

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Krasinski says Groover, who portrayed Turner in Tina: The Musical by Tina Turner on Broadway, he was a consummate professional who knew what to do without any instructions.

“It was one of those things where I had all these instructions of what I wanted to do, and as soon as we started, I said, ‘So, you’ve got this? It looks like you’ve got this,'” he says.

She adds that the Turner estate has been “so supportive” of giving permission to use her music.

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“I can only dream how difficult it is to borrow your music,” he says. “But they were so sweet because it’s a celebration of her music and it’s a celebration of her imagination.”

Krasinski, who has daughters Hazel, 10, and Violet, 7, with his wife Blunt, 41, says the film is based in part on watching his own girls play with imaginary friends and “disappear into a magical world where we, as parents, . are not allowed.”

IF it’s in theaters now.

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Source: HIS Education