Exclusive Interview: Sammy Dell Talks ‘I Can Only Imagine 2,’ Vulnerability, New Music, and More

Rising multihyphenate Sammy Dell is quickly making his presence felt across the stage, screen, and studio. With I Can Only Imagine 2, Dell steps into the spotlight in a major way, bringing a striking vulnerability to the role of Sam Millard that immediately grounds the film’s emotional core. It’s a performance rooted in sincerity and emotional openness—and one that firmly places Sammy among the young artists to watch.

Following the breakout success of the song “I Can Only Imagine,” MercyMe’s Bart Millard (John Michael Finley) is living the dream—sold-out arenas, a devoted fan base, and a thriving career. But behind the spotlight, Bart’s past threatens the family he’s built, especially the fragile bond with his son, Sam. When hopeful newcomer Tim Timmons (Milo Ventimiglia) joins the band for their biggest tour yet, his unexpected friendship with Bart sparks renewed gratitude while also surfacing long-buried truths. As Tim faces hardships of his own, Bart must confront his past and fight to repair his relationships with Sam and his wife Shannon (Sophie Skelton) before fame costs him what matters most.

Based on the heartfelt true story behind the hit single “Even If,” I Can Only Imagine 2 delivers an inspiring next chapter about faith, family, and finding grace in life’s most uncertain moments. Pop Culturalist caught up with Sammy to discuss stepping into this beloved world, building Sam from the inside out, and how his upcoming EP Playground of Glass continues to reflect the same emotional honesty that defines his work on screen.

PC: You’ve said in previous interviews that the roles that appeal to you most are the ones that challenge and push you outside of your comfort zone. What was it about this project and portraying Sam [Millard] that embodied that ethos for you?
Sammy: It’s the journey that Sam undergoes—that father-son dynamic and the desire to connect but missing the chance to. It’s something I’ve felt in my own life. I’ve been through the paces like that with my dad in certain ways.

To come in and embody that in real time, not only from my perspective but also from Sam’s perspective, made me want to think about that dynamic more deeply and really dive into how his head would have worked in that situation.

PC: Speaking of that, it’s so rare in a project to have access to the person you’re portraying on screen. What were those early conversations with the real-life Sam like? Were there any particular mannerisms or specific details that you wanted to make sure were translated from those conversations onto the screen?
Sammy: When I booked the role, Andy Erwin, one of the directors, called me the next day. The call right after that was with Sam, and we instantly got started. It was really transparent early on that we were in the same boat. Sam was like, “I’ve never done this before.” We were both trying to understand each other and notice different things.

I tried to less study and more observe. Andy Erwin, Brent McCorkle, and I talked a lot about how we weren’t trying to play caricatures of these characters—we were trying to tell the best story we could. I really wanted to find that innocence and that desire to succeed but not knowing where to start. Sam and I have both felt that as we’ve tried to figure out what career we wanted to go into.

PC: There is such a lived-in quality that you brought to this performance and your portrayal of Sam. You come from a theater background where performances often have to be bigger to reach the last row in the audience. But in film, it’s about the subtle nuances. You do such a beautiful job of creating Sam’s internal conflict, especially in what’s not said between him and his father. What was that adjustment like going from the stage to the screen?
Sammy: I’ve been working in film a lot lately, but theater is my passion. I’ve always loved theater. Film has this beautiful quality of being able to tell so many different stories. For that transition, I did a lot of soul-searching in my own life. Even conversations like the one we’re having right now are important things to take in while I’m shooting a film. Because it’s more conversational, it allows me to fall into the moment so much easier than on stage.

Granted, with the stage you have a two-hour arc that you get to go on, versus when you’re filming a movie, you’re hitting different emotional points in your character’s life. It’s less linear. That was the biggest hump to get over.

PC: There’s so much depth in the vulnerability that you brought to this character. It’s a role that so many audience members will be able to see themselves reflected in. As an actor, working on your first big feature, how did you create that space for yourself to channel everything that Sam’s going through? How much does music play a role in that preparation?
Sammy: Music is huge in almost every part of that. I find myself diving into music not only for where I am in my own life, but also for where the character is. Having a playlist that represents the vibe and journey your character is on really helps me.

You mentioned it—there’s a lot of vulnerability that we all have, and that many people are still trying to find. That’s one of my favorite parts of the movie: how these characters discover that vulnerability and have to be honest with themselves about their shortcomings.

Once you come to that realization, you’re able to take a step back and say, “I’m a messy person, and that’s a beautiful part of me, because every step I take is another step forward.” I really tried to find that in Sam. Even though he and his father aren’t fully connecting, there are still moments where he knows he’s on the right track and finds things he can pour his time into that help him grow. That’s been a huge part of my life as well.

PC: You did a chemistry read with John Michael as part of your audition process. He followed up with a message afterwards. How did that set the tone for this collaboration, especially given what you were just saying—that these characters spend so much of the film struggling to find common ground up until halfway through?
Sammy: That message very specifically changed my outlook on the audition. As an actor, after that moment, I could have never heard from Andy, Brent, or anyone ever again. But John took the time to acknowledge the work that was done. From that moment, I was like, “I know I did work that I can be proud of, and I can move on.”

From that text to the second I booked it, I was instantly welcomed into the world of this movie and the family we were trying to create. That really set the tone and the bar really high because once I got on set and we started working, we were instantly locked in.

John and I come from very similar backgrounds. He started in theater and now he’s doing a bunch of films. I’m kind of in the same boat. Our processes are similar too, so we’re able to dance together in a way that’s really cool.

PC: Throughout the film, Tim Timmons becomes this mentor figure for Sam. Who were the mentors in your own life who’ve held space for you in a similar way?
Sammy: My first mentors are definitely my parents. They’ve made so many sacrifices for me. The reason I’m here in New York City doing the things I love is because of them.

I will say it’s interesting how Tim and Sam have that relationship, because I experienced something similar with Milo. He was a big mentor for me while we were filming. There were a bunch of moments on set—especially with this being my first big credit and me chasing this dream—where I had a couple of projects come in and I was struggling with what to do. I asked him, “Do I just want to work, or do I want to be focused and meticulous about it?”

He was so insightful and really helped me figure out a path that was right for me at the time and how I wanted to approach things. I’d say he changed a lot of my outlook going in and really helped ease me into this industry.

PC: Yeah, you’re getting to work alongside all these veterans in the film. Similar to Sam, music plays a big role in your life. You teased that you’re dropping an EP. If you had to pick a song from that project to serve as the soundtrack to this character’s life, which would it be and why?
Sammy: I have a song about doing eighteen holes on a golf course with your dad. There’s a line about all the words we share in the silence and speaking in ways that only the two of us know. That really became an anthem for my version of the story and how I was trying to connect with my dad.

It’s funny you bring that up, because I was originally going to release that as a single first since it ties so closely to the movie—but now you’ll have to wait until March 13 to hear it.

PC: Is March 13th the official drop date?
Sammy: Yes—the full EP, Playground of Glass, will be released on March 13 across all streaming platforms.

PC: Something else that I love so much about this film is that it builds to this epic moment at Red Rocks. What was that experience like for you filming on that stage, both creatively and in terms of your connection to music?
Sammy: Personally, the two days we were in Colorado were the best days of filming for me. I woke up the morning of the shoot, put on my running shoes, and ran up the mountain to Red Rocks. It was about three miles. I’d never run in Colorado before—which, surprisingly, didn’t affect me, not to brag—but I remember getting up there and it being completely empty. I made it to the top.

I felt like I had a metaphorical moment where I was at this big peak of the mountain and already looking for the next one. Later that night, we started filming, and that whole space is crazy. We were using in-ears because it’s such a big venue, but there was a moment when I took mine out just to listen, and the way the sound reverberates off the rocks is so beautiful.

It was such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—I could talk about it for hours. That moment was so special. The fact that it’s in my first film, and that it ties together music, a story that feels very present in my life, and acting—it was really mind-boggling.

PC: At the heart of this story is this father and son finding their way to each other. And “20 Questions” becomes an important part of that connection. There’s a question that really stuck out to me during that scene, and answering it as Sam—what’s one thing that hasn’t happened to you that has happened to most?
Sammy: That’s so funny. I had a friend who went to see the movie, and when we went out to dinner he was like, “So, Sammy, what’s one thing…,” and he quoted the movie. I really thought about it, and I’ve still been struggling to find an answer because I want it to be something I’m truly passionate about.

There are so many universal things we go through in life—these canon events. I’m not sure why I haven’t been able to land on one yet, but maybe it’s because I’m so wrapped up in everything happening right now with the movie and the music. I’m in such a grateful place that it almost feels daunting. I’m trying to live in the moment a bit.

Maybe when my next film comes around, we’ll do another interview and I’ll have a good answer for you.

PC: That’s also such a perfect mention to the single that you have out now: “Live in the Moment.”
Sammy: [laughs] Shameless plug.

PC: I feel like this is going to be a breakout moment for you. With this being your big first feature, what’s something that you took away from this project that you’ll bring to the next? Do you have a dream role?
Sammy: One thing I really felt on set was that love. I came into this movie and it already had a pretty established IP. The first one blew up and unexpectedly changed so many people’s lives, so it’s a little daunting to jump into that. But from the first day I was on set, I was welcomed into this family. I feel like that’s something that’s missed a lot in the entertainment industry. I really want to find ways to bring that same love and joy to other sets because the outcome—as we’ve seen—really shows up on screen. People feel that love, and they’re drawn into it.

As far as dream roles go, I love the idea of my music and my acting growing simultaneously and in parallel. In this world of biopics, I’d love to play some really cool guitarist. I haven’t done a ton of research beyond loving his music, but I would absolutely love to do a John Mayer biopic.

To keep up with Sammy, follow him on Instagram. I Can Only Imagine 2 is out in theaters now.

Photo Credit: Kevin Scanlon