It Chapter Two: Will Bale, Hartnett, Chastain Star?

The 2017 cinematic calendar included surprise hits (Get Out), critical darlings (Blade Runner 2049, Dunkirk) and, as always, some quality superheroics (Wonder Woman). It also took us down a dark and terrifying memory lane with IT: Chapter One. 

Fans of the book waited with guarded anticipation to finally see one of Stephen King’s greatest novels on the big screen.

It did not disappoint.

Chapter One became the highest grossing R-rated horror film of all time and garnered rave critical reviews, both for director Andy Muschietti and his brilliant baby-faced cast.

The plot focuses on a group of kids who come together to form The Losers Club to fight off an evil spirit known as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Young actors Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Sophia Lillis, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, and Jeremy Ray Taylor were fantastic and set the stage for IT: Chapter Two, which will be released on September 6, 2019.

In Chapter Two, the older and wiser Losers Club reconvene in Derry, Maine to once again deal with the nightmares of Pennywise and delve deeper into the interdimensional origins of the fear-eating monster. Since the sequel takes place 27 years after the horrific events of Chapter One, the cast will need to be replaced by 30-somethings.

The real mystery of the film, at this stage, is who will be cast as the adult versions of the seven kids. Rumors are swirling and fans are making their own casting choices online, which makes for interesting conversation fodder.

Recently, the child actors were asked who they wanted to play them in Chapter Two, and you got answers like Christian Bale and Chris Pratt. That would be amazing, but it’s not necessarily feasible, as those actors would have to take a pay cut. Nevertheless, I get the sense that Muschietti will retain the services of a couple bigger names alongside less prominent actors — similar to what he did in Chapter One.

With that in mind, grab your red balloon as I put together some early odds on who’ll be cast as The Losers Club in Chapter Two.

Have a read, we all float down here.

IT: CHAPTER TWO:
LOSERS CLUB CASTING ODDS

MIKE HANLON (CHOSEN JACOBS)

Eight names have been tossed around to play Mike Hanlon and, although Chapter One star Chosen Jacobs chose Chadwick Boseman to play the older version of the character, Emmy-winner Sterling K. Brown is my favorite. Boseman’s Marvel/Disney endeavors make him a little too recognizable.

Others have suggested John Boyega, but his role in the new Star Wars trilogy may put his asking-price out of Chapter Two‘s budget. However, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

• Sterling K. Brown: 3/1
• Chadwick Boseman: 4/1
• Jordan Peele: 4/1
• Chiwetel Ejiofor: 17/3
• Michael B. Jordan: 9/1
• Derek Luke: 19/1
• Daniel Kaluuya: 25/1
• John Boyega: 100/1

BILL DENBROUGH (JAEDEN LIEBERHER)

Fans have suggested Josh Hartnett for two different roles. Some love him for the part of Ben Hanscom, but in my eyes, he would make a perfect Bill Denbrough.

Jaeden Lieberher wants Christian Bale. I’m definitely a fan of that choice, and Bale could be the big star they choose to lead this project. However, he’s likely too big of a name for a character that would be better served by a low-key actor. The same goes for Casey Affleck, whose name has been in the rumor mill for a couple different roles in this film.

Ethan Hawke isn’t exactly a “small” name, but he’d come cheaper than Bale and has the chops to take on this role. My personal favorite might be Michael C. Hall.

This is a tough one to call so the odds remain close with Hartnett as the slight fave.

• Josh Hartnett: 4/1
• Ethan Hawke: 5/1
• Michael C. Hall: 5/1
• Tobey Maguire: 17/3
• Edward Norton: 9/1
• Mark Duplass: 19/1
• Jimmi Simpson: 19/1
• Christian Bale: 20/1
• Ethan Embry: 25/1
• Casey Affleck: 35/1

BEVERLY MARSH (SOPHIA LILLIS)

Without question, the current frontrunner has to be Jessica Chastain. Not only does she have natural red hair, but the two-time Academy Award-nominated actress previously worked with Muschietti On the horror film Mama. Chastain is also a dead ringer for an older version of Sophia Lillis so this is a natural choice.

If the obvious pick isn’t available, Amy Adams or fellow redhead Bryce Dallas Howard could bring their talents to the story. I’ve even heard Maggie Gyllenhaal mentioned a couple of times; she can certainly play a badly damaged character with zeal, and red hairdye is a thing.

• Jessica Chastain: 1/1
• Amy Adams: 4/1
• Bryce Dallas Howard: 4/1
• Maggie Gyllenhaal: 9/1

BEN HANSCOM (JEREMY RAY TAYLOR)

When “Haystack” grows up in Chapter Two, he is no longer the fat kid. Instead, he devotes his life to fitness and a successful career as an architect. Although Chapter One portrayer Jeremy Ray Taylor would love to have Chris Pratt play the character, Pratt would likely command too big a paycheque now.

I would love to see Jerry O’Connell or Jeremy Renner take on the role as I feel they both could bring something to the character. However, a few websites are suggesting Josh Hartnett return to the big screen to play the older Ben. Personally, I like Hartnett as Bill, but maybe that’s just me.

Back in the 80s, when O’Connell was a child actor himself, he played a character similar to Hanscom in Stand By Me, another Stephen King adaptation. How cool would it be to see him return as, essentially, a grown-up version in another King movie?

It’s a total guess-fest, but here are the early odds.

• Jerry O’Connell: 4/1
• Jeremy Renner: 4/1
• Josh Hartnett: 17/3
• James Marsden: 9/1
• Ethan Embry: 9/1
• Chris Hemsworth: 10/1
• John Krasinski: 10/1
• Chris Pratt: 19/1

EDDIE KASPBRAK (JACK DYLAN GRAZER)

This one seems like a no-brainer. As soon as I saw (and heard) Jack Dylan Grazer portray Eddie Kaspbrak, I immediately thought of a young Fred Savage from The Wonder Years.

In Chapter One, Eddie is controlled by his mother and married to his respirator. In some ways, he’s a manic hypochondriac and not much changes the older he gets. Who could play that type of character with some added charm? Some fans like the idea of Colin Hanks or even Hannibal star Hugh Dancy. Not bad picks, but I still think Savage is the obvious choice.

Don’t sleep on Jake Gyllenhaal. If Muschietti doesn’t land a big name for one of the other roles, Gyllenhaal could be the A-lister to lead the cast.

• Fred Savage: 2/1
• Colin Hanks: 4/1
• Hugh Dancy: 5/1
• Jake Gyllenhaal: 17/3
• Griffin Newman: 19/1
• Adam Scott: 19/1
• Dane DeHaan: 19/1
• David Tennant: 50/1
• Aaron Paul: 50/1
• Casey Affleck: 100/1

STANLEY URIS (WYATT OLEFF)

Between the events of Chapter One and Chapter Two, the meticulously tidy Stanley Uris has led an uneventful, orderly, and very Jewish life. He doesn’t like the idea of going a few more rounds with Pennywise and, when he gets the call, he sinks into a dark pit of depression and fear.

Stanley may not have a huge part in Chapter Two, but it’s a pivotal role. If I was in charge of casting, I would go with Jesse Eisenberg. I also love the suggestion of likable clown Seth Rogen in a more serious role.

• Jesse Eisenberg: 3/1
• Ben Foster: 4/1
• Seth Rogen: 4/1
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt: 9/1
• Zach Braff: 9/1
• Topher Grace: 10/1
• Michael Rosenbaum: 19/1
• Alex Karpovsky: 19/1
• Scoot McNairy: 25/1
• Casey Affleck: 50/1

RICHIE TOZIER (FINN WOLFHARD)

Everyone wants to see Bill Hader in this role and I can’t blame them. Hader can play dramatic roles while, at the same time, bringing a dark comedic bent, and that’s what made Finn Wolfhard’s version of Richie Tozier so loveable. Not to mention, the multi-faceted actor looks a lot like Wolfhard, who also stars in  Stranger Things, so all that makes him an instant favorite.

There is a temptation to give Adam Driver the role, but he has become huge after playing Kylo Ren in the Star Wars films. It just doesn’t seem like a great fit.

There is an outside chance that Seth Green could get the call. He actually played Tozier in the 1990 It mini-series. It would be a fun and smart piece of casting to have him come back 30 years later to revisit the role.

• Bill Hader: 2/1
• Seth Green: 4/1
• Paul Rudd: 17/3
• Jason Biggs: 9/1
• Giovanni Ribisi: 9/1
• Ike Barinholtz: 19/1
• Kyle Mooney: 25/1
• Adam Driver: 50/1