Bill Skarsgard Explains That IT: CHAPTER 2 Will Be a "Very Different Experience"
As director Andy Muschietti prepares to start shooting IT: Chapter 2, Bill Skarsgard, who played Pennywise the Clown talks a little bit about what we can expect from the film that they are setting out to make. While talking to Den of Geek, Skarsgard says that they plan on shooting in July:
"We're gearing up for it now, so I'm sort of in the process of getting back into that character of Pennywise. I’m sort of in the mindset and we're gearing up for it. I think they start in July. I'm not sure exactly when my start date is, but some time this summer.”
When asked if he has been talking about the script and the evolution of Pennywise in the story with the director, the actor said:
"We're figuring it out, you know…I have a very good relationship with Andy, not only as a director and actor, but also just as a very close friend, so we're having fun with it and we're figuring out what we're going to bring to the table for part two."
Skarsgard goes on to say that he's especially excited about the adult cast that is coming together and teases that the sequel is going to be a very different kind of experience:
"It's going to be a very different experience this time around, just given the fact that you have all of these incredible, seasoned actors to play against, as opposed to having all the kids. So it's going to be a different experience for sure. But I'm looking forward to it."
So far the adult cast includes Jessica Chastain as Beverly Marsh, James McAvoy as Bill Denbrough, Bill Hader as Richie Tozier, James Ransone as Eddie Kaspbrak, Andy Bean as Stan Uris and Jay Ryan as Ben Hanscom. The character that has yet to be cast is Mike Hanlon, who is a major part of the story.
IT: Chapter 2 will be set 27 years after the first film. As they've grown up, they've forgotten about what had happened. When bad things start to happen in Derry again and kids begin to go missing, Mike Hanlon, who stayed behind in Derry to keep watch over the town, calls up his old friends and reminds them of the promise they made to come back and stop It if it ever came back.
From previous interviews, we learned that Chapter 2 will include more of the interdimensional turtle, which was teased in the first film a few times. It will also have a much darker tone to it, and it has been said that Mike Hanlon's character will be drastically changed, as he will be a junkie. You can read more about that here. The adult version of Mike has yet to be cast.
The sequel will also most likely explore Pennywise the Clown a little more. We've heard that the sequel may include elements from Pennywise's history in Derry such as the story behind The Black Spot and there was a deleted scene from the first film that was revealed that included Pennywise eating a Baby. That could be included in the sequel as well if they really do plan on giving us a history of the monster. Skarsgard is all in, hoping that it will explore the twisted mind of Pennywise.
IT: Chapter 2 will be released in theaters on September 6, 2019.