Stephen King’s “It” Has Cast Its Pennywise

Since it was announced that Stephen King’s It was once again going to be adapted for the screen - this time in the shape of two horror films instead of a mini-series - we’ve been wondering who’ll play Pennywise.

Tim Curry - who played the clown in the 1990 version - has left some very big shoes to fill…

Will Poulter (The Revenant, We’re the Millers) was initially cast, but dropped out around the time that director Cary Fukunaga pulled out of the project (reportedly due to script and budget concerns).

Now, Andrés Muschietti - who helmed horror movie Mama - is signed on as director, and Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård has been announced as the new Pennywise.

Son of Stellan Skarsgård (Good Will Hunting), and brother of Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood), 25-year-old Bill has so far appeared in Hemlock Grove, and Allegiant (of the Divergent trilogy).

He’ll begin filming It in the next few months.

If you haven’t read the book or seen the original mini-series, then It sees an evil, supernatural being take the form of whatever its intended victim is scared of (like a Harry Potter boggart).

“It” travels to Derry, in Maine, and - hoping to prey on small kids - moves into the sewers. Predominately appearing as a clown called Pennywise, this “being” kills and eats various children.

 

A local group of boys - known as The Losers Club - become aware of Pennywise’s existence, and (to cut a long, very good story short), they try to stop him.

Director Andrés Muschietti is reportedly trying to sign up Jaeden Lieberher (St. Vincent), Finn Wolfhard, Jack Grazer, Wyatt Oleff (Guardians of the Galaxy), Chosen Jacobs, and Jeremy Ray Taylor to play the various members of The Losers Club.

It is due to hit cinemas in September, 2017.