The new adaptation of Stephen King's classic horror story It has been going through a troubled development stage of late, but finally appears to be settling down, withMama's Andy Muschietti in place to direct. And, after a brief flurry of casting rumours, Bill Skarsgard has landed the key role of demonic, occasionally clown-formed creature Pennywise.
It's story, which is retaining its two-part structure from when Cary Fukunaga was developing the project to direct, sees an evil entity tormenting children in a small Maine town, and frequently taking the form of craven clown Pennywise. We'll follow the characters as kids in the first film, before the second finds them grown up with no memory of Pennywise, but forced to confront their past when it returns. The initial casting, according to The Hollywood Reporter, also includes Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs and Jeremy Ray Taylor.
And while Will Poulter was originally slated to take on the villainous role, Skarsgard will channel some of the energy he used on Hemlock Grove to take on the part. On the big screen, he was last seen in The Divergent Series: Allegiant and will be back for next year's Ascendant.