Casting Call: IT

In which we suggest who should star in the next big adaptation, remake, or historical film.

Published in 1986, Stephen King’s IT was an instant success. Set in the 1950s, the coming-of-age story follows seven children, known as The Losers Club, living in Derry, Maine. They are preyed upon by an evil, shape-shifting being that primarily takes the form of Pennywise the Clown, but disguises itself as its victim’s fears—from spiders to werewolves—before killing. The children are united as the victims of class bully, Henry Bowers, but soon learn that they all encounter “It” in its various forms. The children are able to banish “It” but nearly 30 years later, “It” resurfaces.

IT first came to the screen in the form of a 1990 TV mini-series starring Tim Curry, Annette O’Toole, John Ritter, and Richard Thomas. In December, Cary Fukunaga, the director of True Detective’s stellar first season, announced that he will direct a new adaptation of the hit horror novel with Stephen King’s blessing. Project producer Dan Lin has stated that the book will likely be split into two movies: the first part about the cast as children, tormented by “It,” and the second part about the cast returning as adults to Derry for a final faceoff. While the TV mini-series glossed over some intricacies of the original plot, we look forward to Fukunaga addressing the flavors and nuances that make up the original King novel. The movie is set to begin shooting in the summer, but for now, here are our cast nominations for IT.

Casting Call runs every Friday. For more, click here.