The adaptation of Stephen King's IT demolished box office expectations with a killer opening weekend of $123 million, undoubtedly leading audiences (and fans of the massive novel) to wonder when they'll get the next terrifying chapter of the Losers Club on the big screen.
The next part of the R-rated horror tale is indeed coming (of course). And like the book (and the previous TV version), the story jumps ahead 27 years to catch up with the Losers as they reunite in the small town of Derry, Maine and honor their pledge to oppose the toothy horror of Pennywise the Dancing Clown once again.
Unlike the setting of King's original story (which went from the 1950s to the 1980s), the sequel will take place in the modern day after the late-80s setting of the first movie. After detailing the courageous kids' initial conflict with Bill Skarsgard's sewer-dwelling demon-clown, director Andy Muschietti's R-rated follow-up will revisit them as 40-ish grown-ups who continue their battle with the dreadful creature (although the sequel will also feature flashbacks to the younger versions).
Which direction will the sequel take with casting? The first IT only cost a modest $35 million — will chapter two use a similar tactic as the first, keeping the budget reasonably low and casting relative unknowns? Will the filmmakers instead try to lure higher-profile talent for low fees? Or will they splash some of that whopping box office haul into the pot and go bigger across the entire production?
While Muschietti and the producers surely have some adult actors already in mind (and most likely did even before or during the making of chapter one), it's unknown what deviations they'll have these characters take from the source material. But here are a few ideas to fill the grown-up roles:
Bill Denbrough, the leader of the Losers (who later applies his childhood trauma to a successful career as a horror writer), was played by Jaeden Lieberher of the sci-fi movie MIDNIGHT SPECIAL. It seems like the adult role most likely to be filled by a familiar face, so how about Ewan McGregor?
Richie "Trashmouth" Tozier, played as a youth by Finn Wolfhard of the Netflix hit "Stranger Things", is both amusing and abrasive (he becomes a radio personality in King's novel). Who better fits that description than "Silicon Valley" buffoon T.J. Miller?
Redheaded tomboy Beverly Marsh (Sophia Lillis) endures a lot during her childhood, and ends up as a successful fashion designer in adulthood. Jessica Chastain seems to be a fan favorite for the grown-up version, and definitely has both elegance and plenty of fire (plus she starred in Muschietti's horror effort MAMA).
Mike Hanlon (played in young form by Chosen Jacobs) bravely hangs around Derry to keep an eye on things, as well as document the secrets as the town librarian. A guy who springs to mind from that description is William Jackson Harper, who deals with his own unique kinds of horrors on the sitcom "The Good Place".
Ben Hanscomb (played by Jeremy Ray Taylor) is the chunky kid who inevitably transforms into a physically fit architect. A potential romance with adult Beverly should be believable, and "Gotham" star Ben McKenzie would be enough of a handsome charmer.
Eddie Kaspbrak, the scrawny asthmatic boy (played by Jack Dylan Grazer) who grows up to own a limo company, could be a good match for someone like Adam Scott, who has comedic chops but has also dealt with serious and horrific movie material.
Stan Uris (played by Wyatt Olef in IT) is a young skeptical germaphobe who seems to grow into a well-adjusted adult, but… well, let's say he may have a harder time dealing with the sequel's situation. He may not have a big part,but how about Johnny Galecki of "The Big Bang Theory"?
Let us know below who you think should play the adult versions of the Losers Club!
As for the previous Cast This column, picks to play the Joker in the planned origin story were:
1. Sam Rockwell 2. Jake Gyllenhaal 3. Bill Skarsgard