Update: September 18, 2017
Dragonlord's Fantasy Casting Vol. 17: IT CHAPTER TWO
If they follow the Stephen King novel,
It: Chapter Two will be set 27 years after the events of the first film. The kids in the Losers Club, who were around 14-15 years old in the first film, would now be 41-42 years old for the sequel.
I chose actors that are mainly around 39 to 43 years old and didn't overload the ensemble with A-list stars. Since
Chapter Two will have a lot of flashbacks to their childhood, it was extremely important for me to cast actors that looked like their teenage counterpart.
AMY ADAMS as BEVERLY MARSH (Age: 43)
When watching
It, I thought Beverly actress Sophia Lillis had a striking resemblance to Amy Adams. So it's a no-brainer my grown-up Beverly would be the two-time Oscar nominated actress. Jessica Chastain is more likely to be cast as Beverly due to her past working relationship with
It director Andy Muschietti (and she'd be amazing) but Amy is still my pick. In the book, Adult Beverly is a successful fashion designer but is in an abusive relationship.
Alternates for Beverly: Jessica Chastain (
Zero Dark Thirty), Alicia Witt (
Urban Legend)
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TOBY MAGUIRE as BILL DENBROUGH (Age: 42)
After
Spider-Man 3, Tobey Maguire has only appeared in a handful of movies. So I thought it'd be nice for him to be back in the spotlight and part of this high-profile ensemble piece. Tobey would be great as Bill, the stuttering leader of the Losers Club. In the books, adult Bill is a successful writer and is married to movie star Audra Phillips.
Alternates for Bill: Hugh Dancy (
Hannibal), Ewan Mcgregor (
Fargo), Michael C. Hall (
Dexter), Colin Hanks (
Fargo), DJ Qualls (
The Man in the High Castle)
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**TIE**
JERRY O'CONNELL as BEN HANSCOM (Age: 43)
Ben loses his excess weight and grows up to become a well-renowned architect. Actor Jerry O'Connell used to be a chubby kid in another Stephen King adaptation
Stand By Me [image] and he grew up to become a stud. I thought it would be a cool full circle journey if Jerry played the adult Ben.
**TIE**
JOSH HARTNETT as BEN HANSCOM (Age: 39)
One of the most distinguishable facial traits Ben child actor Jeremy Ray Taylor has is his slightly slanted eyes. I immediately thought of Josh Hartnett. The
Pearl Harbor actor was last seen in the gothic horror series
Penny Dreadful and the period drama
The Ottoman Lieutenant.
Alternate for Ben: Joel Edgerton (
Zero Dark Thirty)
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**TIE**
ZACH BRAFF as RICHIE TOZIER (Age: 42)
The joker among the Losers Club, Richie grew up to become a successful disc jockey in the book. Finding the right actor to play the grown up Richie is a bit hard because the child actor, Finn Wolfhard, has a very distinct facial appearance. But I think Zach Braff nails the look and we know from his stint in
Scrubs he can be funny.
**TIE**
ASHTON KUTCHER as RICHIE TOZIER (Age: 39)
But if we're talking about an exact match looks-wise to Finn Wolfhard, from the sharp nose to the wide lips to the effeminate facial appearance, Ashton Kutcher is like an aged clone of the child actor. From
That '70s Show to
Dude, Where's My Car?, we know Ashton can do comedy.
Alternate for Richie: Andy Samberg (
Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
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DAVID OYELOWO as MIKE HANLON (Age: 41)
Mike is the only one among the Losers who remained in Derry and grows up to becomes the town's librarian. In the sequel, Mike is said to be a "wreck" and a "junkie" due to retaining his memories of the events of 1989 and his obsession in trying to find out how to kill Pennywise. I'd like to think the whole ordeal has taken a toll on Mike physically as he will look a bit older than the rest of the Losers. EDIT: I originally chose Shemar Moore who looks exactly like the young Mike actor Chosen Jacobs. But after careful consideration and poster feedback, I've chosen to replace Shemar with my alternate pick - David Oyelowo (
Selma).
Alternates for Mike: Derek Luke (
13 Reasons Why), Chadwick Boseman (
Black Panther)
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**TIE**
TOPHER GRACE as EDDIE KASPBRAK (Age: 39)
In the book, Eddie runs a successful limousine company in New York. Aside from having a similar face to Eddie, actor Topher Grace is a pretty good at playing slightly neurotic or dweeb-y characters. The '70s Show alum can next be seen in the horror thriller
Delirium.
** TIE **
MILO VENTIMIGLIA as EDDIE KASPBRAK (Age: 40)
Milo Ventimiglia was originally my first choice as the grown-up Eddie but changed my mind because his deep voice didn't match the voice of child actor Jack Dylan Grazer. But after watching Jack in the new television series,
Me, Myself & I, he just looks exactly like Milo if he was still 14 years old. So screw the voice discrepancy, Milo is back in.
Alternates for Eddie: Fred Savage (
The Wonder Years), Eddie Cahill (
CSI: NY), Justin Long (
Jeepers Creepers), Dominic Cooper (
Preacher)
P.S. If age wasn't a factor, Ralph Macchio would be my ideal actor to play Eddie. Unfortunately, Ralph is 55 now.
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GIOVANNI RIBISI as STANLEY URIS (Age: 42)
After an extensive search, I've finally found my adult Stan in Giovanni Ribisi (
Saving Private Ryan,
Avatar). Not only does he look similar to the Stanley child actor, Giovanni is a wonderful thespian that can bring to life Stan's tics and eccentricities. Stan is said to be the most traumatized among the Losers and will struggle going back to Derry to face Pennywise again.
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MICHAEL C. HALL as HENRY BOWERS (Age: 46)
In the first film, Henry Bowers seemingly falls to his death inside a well. So I don't know if the character will still appear in the sequel. But in case he survives, Michael C. Hall (
Dexter) would be the perfect actor to play the adult Henry. Aside from looking the same as 1989 Henry actor, Michael has some experience in playing psycho killers.
Alternate: Guy Pearce (
L.A. Confidential)