In February, the first news broke that Jessica Chastain was in early talks to play the grown Beverly Marsh in horror sequel It: Chapter 2. While she's close to sealing a deal, some potential fellow cast members have entered negotiations, as James McAvoy and Bill Hader are now in talks.
Andy Muschietti is back to direct the sequel, with Gary Dauberman providing the script. The new movie will adapt the present-day chunk of the book, as the members of the Losers Club, now adults and largely without memory of their encounter with the demonic Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard, who will be back) and drawn to return to their home town of Derry for a second showdown.
Assuming they sign on, McAvoy will play Bill, as portrayed in the first film by Jaeden Lieberher, while Hader (who, like Chastain, was one of those pinpointed by various people as an ideal choice during the press tour for the original) is close to the role of Richie, brought to life as a younger man by Finn Wolfhard. There are reportedly plans to revisit the young versions of the characters in flashback, though the final details are still being worked out. Muschietti should have the cameras rolling in July, aiming for a September 2019 release date.
McAvoy will be heard in Sherlock Gnomes, which is out on 11 May and is one of the leads in Submergence, due 18 May. Hader can be found on the small screen in HBO comedy series Barry, which he co-created and which has just scored a second season order.
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