X-Men star James McAvoy and former SNL comedian Bill Hader are in negotiations to join Jessica Chastain in IT: Chapter Two for New Line, per a report by Heat Vision.
The new film is set to adapt the other half of Stephen King’s iconic novel, focusing on the adult versions of the child characters from the original.
If a deal is inked, McAvoy would play the role of the adult Losers Club leader Bill Denbrough who grows up to be a successful author. Jaeden Lieberher played the character in the first.
Hader will play the adult Richie Tozier, the foul-mouthed jokester who grows up to be a DJ. He takes over from Finn Wolfhard.
Chastain is already on board to play Beverly Marsh, the group’s lone female member who as an adult ends up in an abusive marriage. Bill Skarsgard will return as Pennywise and the various child actors are expected to appear in flashback.
Andy Muschietti and Gary Dauberman are back as director and screenwriter, respectively, following last year’s first installment which grossed $700 million worldwide. Barbara Muschietti, Dan Lin and Roy Lee are producing.
Filming on the sequel begins in July ahead of a September 7th 2019 release.
