It: Chapter Two, the sequel to the 2017 film based on the Stephen King novel, sees the same group of characters return — only 27 years later. The members of the Losers Club have all grown up and dispersed, but when a devastating phone call brings them back to the sleepy town of Derry, so does the return of It. The group must once again face their biggest fears and the memories of their past, while Pennywise is deadlier than ever. Although the shape-shifting creature is familiar — Bill Skarsgård returns in the role — the cast is new and filled with award-winning stars who play the grown-up versions of the characters from the original movie.
It director Andy Muschietti said at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con that, during the production of the first film, he began to think about which stars he wanted to play each child actor's counterpart, and he actually got everyone he had envisioned. “During the production, we started playing with names and speculating who would play the [adult] counterparts," said the helmer. "I was very lucky that I got everyone I wanted to play in the movie. … Half the cast was pre-thought about it. And the rest auditioned."
Before the movie hits theaters Sept. 5, take a look at the cast of It: Chapter Two, and which characters they are playing from It: Chapter One, below.
Sophia Lillis and Jessica Chastain as Beverly Mash
In the 2017 film, Sophia Lillis plays Beverly Mash, the only female member of the Losers Club. Since the movie hit theaters, the actress has appeared in Sharp Objects, and her next project is the supernatural horror film Gretel and Hansel.
Jessica Chastain plays the older Beverly for the It sequel. The Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee stars along her X-Men co-star James McAvoy in the film. During filming, Chastain revealed that more than 4,500 gallons of fake blood were used, with the actress telling Muschietti, “Let’s make Carrie on steroids.”
The Zero Dark Thirty actress is currently filming 355, a female spy thriller, with Penelope Cruz and Lupita Nyong’o.
Finn Wolfhard and Bill Hader as Richie Tozier
Fans of Stranger Things recognize Finn Wolfhard as the actor playing the part of young Richie Tozier in It: Chapter One.
Bill Hader, the Emmy-winning writer, director and star of HBO's Barry, is taking over the role with the same signature glasses that Richie had 27 years earlier. Hader is busy this awards season, as Barry racked up a total of 17 Emmy nominations, plus his variety sketch series Documentary Now! — which he created with fellow Saturday Night Live alums Fred Armisen, Seth Meyers and Rhys Thomas — earned four noms.
Wolfhard told The Hollywood Reporter that he and his counterpart had a few days to hang out in Hader’s trailer, where they bonded over movies in preparation for the film. "For Bill, it was easy to study my mannerisms because he could just watch the first movie. He can handle anything on set," Wolfhard said.
Jaeden Lieberher and James McAvoy as Bill Denbrough
Jaeden Lieberher played Bill Denbrough in the first film, and James McAvoy takes over the role for the sequel. Lieberher also stars in the crime dramedy Knives Out with Chris Evans, Daniel Craig and Toni Collette, which is set to be released in November, and is set to appear in the upcoming Apple+ miniseries Defending Jacob.
McAvoy, known for his role in Split and as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men series, joins the rest of the Losers club against Pennywise for the sequel.
The Scotsman reteams with Chastain, who he revealed took him aside while filming X-Men: Dark Phoenix to tell him about It: Chapter Two and the fact that Muschietti wanted him for the role.
"Jessica Chastain, when we were making X-Men, she was rocking an evil wig look and badass. She took me aside and said, 'Listen, there's this really fucking great director,'" recalled McAvoy. "'They really want you to play the older Bill.'"
Chosen Jacobs and Isaiah Mustafa as Mike Hanlon
As the younger Mike Hanlon, Chosen Jacobs plays the last member to join the Losers Club. Since the 2017 film, Jacobs has been recurring on Hulu’s Castle Rock, which also is within the multiverse of King's novels.
As Mike Hanlon grew up and the rest of the Losers Club moved away, he remained and became the town librarian and an amateur historian of the town and of It. Isaiah Mustafa, known for his Old Spice commercials, portrays Mike in the new installment — a big change from the character he portrays in the cologne ads. Mustafa is also known for his role on Freeform's fantasy series Shadowhunters.
Jack Dylan Grazer and James Ransone as Eddie Kaspbrak
Jack Dylan Grazer, who plays young Eddie, has been busy since It, having appeared in Beautiful Boy with Steve Carell and Timothee Chalamet and in DC’s Shazam!
As a child, Eddie is a hypochondriac with an overbearing mother; as an adult, he lives in New York City with his wife and owns a limousine company. Eddie returns to Derry after murders begin to occur.
James Ransone plays the adult version of the character. The actor is a horror veteran, having also appeared in such films as Sinister and Sinister 2. Ransone also is known for his role on HBO’s crime drama series The Wire.
Jeremy Ray Taylor and Jay Ryan as Ben Hanscom
Young Ben Hanscom was played by Jeremy Ray Taylor, who went on to appear in Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween with Jack Black and Caleel Harris.
Bullied for being overweight as a child, Ben as an adult has become a lean man who is reluctant to come back to his hometown after receiving a disturbing phone call. Playing the adult Ben is New Zealand actor Jay Ryan, known for the Australian soap opera Neighbours and the New Zealand comedy-drama Go Girls. Ryan also starred on the CW series Beauty and the Beast.
Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise
Bill Skarsgård returns as the evil shape-shifting creature known as It, aka Pennywise. With makeup done by Oscar winners Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr., it takes two to three hours to transform Skarsgård into the evil clown.
Since starring in It: Chapter One, the actor has appeared in Deadpool 2, Assassination Nation and another work set in the King multiverse, Hulu's Castle Rock. Skarsgård also has been continuing his work in horror and thrillers with The Devil All the Time. starring Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson, and Naked Singularity, with both due out in 2020.
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