As we all know by this point in time, director Andres Muschietti and company are hard at work currently filming the much-anticipated follow-up to New Line's massively successful adaptation of the first "chapter" of STEPHEN KING'S IT. We know the cast includes some truly huge heavy-hitters and today we have word that another actor has joined the cast as a controversial character.
Today, Deadline reports that Taylor Frey (see above) has landed his first studio feature in the role of Don Hagarty in IT CHAPTER TWO. The character – as those of you who have read the book know – is a slightly controversial character in that SPOILERS he and his boyfriend Adrian Mellon (recently cast Xavier Dolan) are two gay men visiting Derry, that are beaten up by some local homophobic dudes, and then (one of them) is eaten by Pennywise.
This is a controversial entry in the massive novel by Stephen King – not as, you know, controversial as, you know, that ONE scene – but all the same, I'm glad they are keeping it in the film. Sure it may go down a bit "nicer" than it does in King's novel, but keeping this still relevant today issue is a solid choice on Muschietti's part.
Here's the new film's semi-synopsis:
Because every 27 years evil revisits the town of Derry, Maine, IT CHAPTER TWO brings the characters—who’ve long since gone their separate ways—back together as adults, nearly three decades after the events of the first film.
Bill Skarsgård returns in the seminal role of Pennywise. James McAvoy (SPLIT, GLASS) stars as Bill, Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain (CRIMSON PEAK, MAMA) as Beverly, Bill Hader (BARRY, THE SKELETON TWINS) as Richie, Isaiah Mustafa (SHADOWRUNNER: THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS) as Mike, Jay Ryan (MARY KILLS PEOPLE) as Ben, James Ransone (SINISTER, SINISTER 2) as Eddie, and Andy Bean (ALLEGIANT) as Stanley.
Reprising their roles as the original members of the Losers Club are Jaeden Lieberher as Bill, Wyatt Oleff as Stanley, Sophia Lillis as Beverly, Finn Wolfhard as Richie, Jeremy Ray Taylor as Ben, Chosen Jacobs as Mike, and Jack Dylan Grazer as Eddie.
Muschietti directs from a screenplay by Gary Dauberman (IT, ANNABELLE: CREATION) based on the novel by Stephen King. Barbara Muschietti, Dan Lin, and Roy Lee are producing the film. Marty Ewing, Seth Grahame-Smith, and David Katzenberg are the executive producers. The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Checco Varese (THE 33), Oscar-winning production designer Paul D. Austerberry (THE SHAPE OF WATER), editor Jason Ballantine (IT, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD), and Oscar-nominated costume designer Luis Sequeira (THE SHAPE OF WATER, MAMA).
Production will take place in Toronto, Canada. IT CHAPTER TWO is a New Line Cinema production. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures on September 6, 2019.