Oh boy, horror fans, are you ready for the latest in the ongoing saga of bringing a feature film version of Stephen King’s It to the big screen? After True Detective‘s Cary Fukunaga departed the project around this time last year, Mama director Andrés Muschietti came aboard New Line’s latest horror endeavor. However, before Fukunaga and the producers of the film parted ways, English actor Will Poulter was cast as the infamous evil clown Pennywise who terrorizes a group of friends while they are children and later when they are adults. After Fukunaga left, it was uncertain if Poulter would remain on board.
Well, it looks like today we got our answer as The Hollywood Reporter broke news that Hemlock Grove and Allegiant star Bill Skarsgård will step into the role. THR is also reporting that Jaeden Lieberher (St. Vincent), Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs and Jeremy Ray Taylor will join the film, as well.
You may remember that we here at Nerdist were actually pretty jazzed about the idea of Poulter being cast in the role. The idea of a young actor portraying the clown, iconically played by Tim Curry in the mini-series from the 90s, was unexpected, especially considering that rumors were swirling that older actors like now-Oscar winner Mark Rylance and Ben Mendelsohn were being considered. But Fukunaga stated he was “blown away” by Poulter’s audition, and considering the caliber of actors he had directed before, that’s saying something.
Now, it appears that producers have kept the idea of going young, but I’m afraid that’s where the comparisons stop. As someone who watched one and a half seasons of SkarsgÃ¥rd on Hemlock Grove, this news does not interest me in the least and I am struggling to find anything remotely threatening or exciting about the choice. Nevertheless, remember that there was rampant skepticism when Heath Ledger was announced to play the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight so perhaps we will all be in for a treat when the first part of Stephen King’s It finally hits theaters.
What do you think? Are you looking forward to Bill SkarsgÃ¥rd’s turn as Pennywise the clown? Tell us in the comments!
Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros. Television
