As we enjoy our post-“IT” horror high, we’re counting the days until Part 2 and fantasizing about our dream cast for the adult Loser’s Club.
Now that many of you have seen the new version of Stephen King’s classic tale IT, we started to think about what surprises will await us in the second part of the story. Will we see Maturin? Perhaps a visit to the Macroverse? Will history repeat itself with ITs final form? Will Ben ultimately end up with Beverly? All interesting questions and theories are bound to come up until we get some concrete answers from the Warner Bros/New Line Cinema.
In the meantime, we thought it would be fun if we shared who we think could best play the adult versions of The Losers Club. Check out our writers’ picks below, and let us know how we did and who your dream cast would include.
Our participating writers are: Nico Nice, Jackie Ruth, Celia Thomas, Chase Smith, Brandy Benson, and Ahlissa Eichhorn.
MIKE HANLON
OUR PICKS
IDRIS ELBA (Nico)
Of all the Losers, poor Mike didn’t have much to do in Chapter One, so in order to rectify that situation, someone with great presence is needed. Idris Elba would be my choice to portray adult Mike, as he not only one of the best actors in Hollywood right now, he can get another chance to do another King character justice.
BLAIR UNDERWOOD (Celia)
My first thought for casting Mike is, “Who looks like they’d stay behind to run a library? Tim Reid! Wait, he already played Mike in the miniseries… Blair Underwood it is then!” Blair’s roles as a CIA Deputy Director, medical doctor, psychologist, and all around good guy make him a great pick for the sensible, trustworthy Mike. Although Mike is an outsider, he exudes a dependability that Underwood would have no trouble bringing to the film.
DEREK LUKE (Jackie)
Derek Luke would be great as Mike Hanlon because he’s been around and appeared in several notable roles, but still isn’t a household name. His biggest recent role was that of Mr. Porter in Netflix’s Thirteen Reasons Why series, so it’s obvious he can handle roles that deal with tough subjects and can be credible as an authority figure, as is adult Mike’s role in the story.
DEREK LUKE (Chase)
Instantly I had 2 go-to options in my brain for this character: 1. David Oyelowo the fine star of “Selma and 2. Derek Luke. Luke is a fine actor with a versatile background in TV and films and given the direction that they are taking Mike’s character, he would have to be my choice for this role.
JAMIE FOXX (Brandy)
I think Jamie Foxx would work perfectly for Mike. He has tons of experience acting in action movies with serious characters. I think he can fit my image of Mike perfectly. I thought Tim Reid made Mike rather sophisticated in the original, and it’s something I think Jamie would be able to do easily.
DONALD GLOVER (Ahlissa)
Glover was the first actor to come to mind when I first saw the new Mike — he could be his father, which is an obviously good factor when casting adult versions. He’s known for ‘Ultimate Spiderman’, ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’, and ‘Atlanta.’ The talent is there, and the looks are definitely there. I have virtually no doubt that he could handle somber Mike.
STANLEY URIS
OUR PICKS
JOHNNY GALECKI (Nico)
For those familiar with the source material and the ABC miniseries, we all know what happens to Stanley during the story. Johnny Galecki is the perfect choice to bring that nervousness and hesitation of adult Stanley to the big screen when tasked with fulfilling his blood oath.
PETER JACOBSON (Celia)
I definitely see an adult Stanley as Peter Jacobson. He seems like a hard man to please, especially when it comes to his friends’ belief in a supernatural, multidimensional monster. Always the realistic one of the group, Stanley (as Peter Jacobson) needs ultimate proof if IT is really back in town; I can almost see Jacobson’s eyes darting back and forth as he ponders his next move and if he can handle another run in with IT.
HUGH DANCY (Jackie)
Horror fans will be familiar with Dancy due to his role as Will Graham in Hannibal, and he does a great job with serious roles where he’s somewhat nervous or awkward. He also has curly hair similar to young Stan (Wyatt Oleff).
ROB BENEDICT (Chase)
Stanley is one of only 2 characters where I had only one choice immediately pop in my head and never leave. Stanley is a character that hides his doubts and fears behind skepticism and humor. However, there is a lasting mark and darkness that is inside him and the actor who plays hIm must be able to bring that humanity to the role. My choice was clear: Rob Benedict.
FRED SAVAGE (Brandy)
Fred Savage would match the curly locks of Wyatt Oleff. It would be interesting to see him in a darker role again. I remember watching him in a lifetime movie co-starring Candice Cameron and I think he could do this role perfectly. All else fails, just cast his brother Ben Savage.
MATTHEW GOODE (Ahlissa)
Matthew Goode’s role in 2013’s ‘Stoker’ should be enough to convince you the guy can act. Having starred in ‘The Imitation Game’, ‘Watchmen’, and ‘Downtown Abbey’, his filmography can seem a bit lengthy compared to the others, but his role as Stan would be unfortunately (but necessarily) small, depending on how Chapter Two will be wrote. He can do serious Stan breathlessly, without a blip.
BEN HANSCOM
OUR PICKSCHRIS PRATT (Nico)
While he seems like the most obvious choice, he’s also the most sensible choice. Chris Pratt has proven he can turn anything into gold and I firmly believe he would attract a bigger group of people into the theater that might not normally see a horror film.
LEE TERGESEN (Celia)
Lee Tergesen! Pudgy Ben has lost his weight and became a superstar! I picked Tergesen because of one role — Tobias Beecher in Oz. Tergesen can go from a sweet, lovable teddy bear to a cold-blooded killer, just as we see with Ben stumbling over his words with Bev or his booming bravery during the rock fight. Ben has a fire in his soul, and Tergesen’s heart burns there too.
JASON RITTER (Jackie)
This one may be obvious. Not only is Jason Ritter the perfect age for the role of adult Ben, he’d be fulfilling the same role his father did almost 30 years ago. The younger Ritter is a talented actor who doesn’t get enough high-profile roles, and this would be a perfect fit.
JENSEN ACKLES (Chase)
The moment I thought of King’s resident “fat kid” Ben Hanscom, I knew who I would cast as his adult alter-ego. I always felt like King connected a lot with Ben who was possibly smarter, stronger, quicker witted and tougher than any of the Loser’s Club, but it was hidden beneath the layers of his outward appearance just like his sensitive and protective nature. Those attributes helped him to become “conventionally handsome”, rich and famous. However, his sensitive and deep nature still carry the wounds of his youth in my opinion, and that keeps him a very complex character. This role needs an actor who can be all of those things and convey a lot of different emotions without saying a word. My Choice: JENSEN ACKLES
AARON ECKHART (Brandy)
Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight) would look the best for this part…but he needs a beard. After John Ritter in the original film, I can’t see Ben without a beard. Aaron really suits the image of hot shot architect Ben.
AJ BOWEN (Ahlissa)
Horror fan favorite, Bowen has showcased his chops more than a few times in every genre. He gets terror and understands how to convey or cause it, which is something the above actors haven’t necessarily had a lot of experience with. He’s known for ‘The Sacrament’, ‘You’re Next’, and ‘The Frontier.’
EDDIE KASPBRACK
OUR PICKS
ELIJAH WOOD (Nico)
Elijah Wood has shown he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty in genre fare and he would be an excellent choice for the adult hypochondriac Eddie. If you need further please check out THE FACULTY and COOTIES to understand why he would be the best fit for the role.
ADAM SCOTT (Celia)
Although I think this movie would be great with a cast of unknowns, I see an adult Eddie played by Adam Scott. I’ve seen Scott in a bunch of different comedies which makes me think he wouldn’t do that well as Eddie, but his smart remarks at others’ jokes paired with his responsible adult-ness seen in Krampus makes him a strong contender in my book. Plus he’s got that nice swaff of hair that Eddie (probably) would have kept into his adult years.
KEVIN CONNOLLY (Jackie)
Eddie was always the smallest of the Losers Club, but not quiet or weak. Connolly shares the small stature of the character and has personality to match that of Eddie, who might be expected to play an important role in Part 2 of the series.
COLIN O’DONOGHUE (Chase)
Eddie was one of the more difficult choices for me, though it came down to two choices: Charlie Cox and Colin O’Donoghue. Ultimately, I felt that we needed someone who could seamlessly transition from a weak individual to one with great inner strength that exceeded his physical prowess. My Choice: COLIN O’DONOGHUE.
JAKE T. AUSTIN (Brandy)
If only Jake T. Austin was 10 years older, because he looks similar to Jack Dylan Grazer. I think he would be good in a horror movie, but he hasn’t been in one yet. He’s had more serious roles that make me feel that he could really handle the role of Eddie.
SETH GABEL (Ahlissa)
Starring as Cotton Mather on ‘Salem’ and featured on ‘Fringe’, Gabel is a chameleon. His stand out role, to me, was small but impactful as Jeffrey Dahmer in American Horror Story: Hotel. Being 5’11” affects the character description a bit but he can portray the meek but willful Eddie with ease.
BEVERLY MARSH
OUR PICKS
KRYSTEN RITTER (Nico)
I originally had Deborah Ann Woll as my choice (and I know Jessica Chastain is the popular choice), but after really thinking about it, Krysten Ritter is the only one that could really match Sophia Lillis’ fiery performance as Beverly. She would do the character justice and we all know after seeing JESSICA JONES, she’s more than capable of being a bad ass!
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD (Celia)
I’ve heard everyone talk about Jessica Chastain being a perfect adult Bev, and I agree. Her badassery in nearly everything she plays fits Bev’s tomboy attitude perfectly. But I think we’re missing her soft side as well; remember here, Beverly continues to be abused by male figures in her life well into adulthood. So I elect Bryce Dallas Howard. She’s shown through movies like Jurassic World and The Village that she has the guts to face her demons and still be the feminine woman she is… I’d also like to suggest Molly Ringwald for the perfect meta role!
ISLA FISHER (Jackie)
As far as redheaded actresses go, Amy Adams might be the go-to choice, but Isla Fisher could fill the role of Bev wonderfully. She’s mostly known for comedic roles, but giving Fisher the chance to shine in a horror movie could be a good move. Horror and comedy do cross paths frequently, after all.
BRITTANY SNOW (Chase)
“Bev” was one of my two hardest choices to make in this casting. I narrowed down to 3 choices: Kate Mara, Brittany Snow, and Bryce Dallas Howard. Once I narrowed it down, I thought about my rule (no major celebrities), and with the Jurassic World success and coming sequel, I had to exclude Howard despite how well I think she could do with the role. That left Kate Mara and Brittany Snow. Mara and Snow have also been busy, but I still think either could fit beautifully into our ensemble. Ultimately, thinking of the tough woman that Marsh is and the fire that is in her, I chose to go with an actress that I feel can bring that strength but maintain an air of the youthful fun and innocence that was taken from her (not to mention her mischievous nature). My Choice: BRITTANY SNOW.
MAE WHITMAN (Brandy)
Mae Whitman could fit this role, granted she’s a little too young though. She can rock short blonde hair well and has quite an extensive portfolio. I feel she might be able to breathe more life into this character. I only remember this character from one scene, other than that she holds no actual presence for me.
LAUREN AMBROSE (Ahlissa)
The very easy choice of adult Bev would be Amy Adams; and it’s understandable, as the resemblance is definitely there. However, her star power would overshadow much of the movie. Same goes for Jessica Chastain, who is another amazing actress with intimidating talent. Ambrose is known for ‘Six Feet Under’, where she showcased a brash, carefree persona that I think is essential to this new Bev. She can also pull off the darker moments down the road for the character as well.
RICHIE TOZIER
OUR PICKS
BILL HADER (Nico)
Out of anyone on this list, this is the one that needs to happen! Bill Hader is perfect as adult Richie, so much so, even Finn Wolfhard is lobbying for him to get the part. Warner Bros please make this happen…he’s the only choice!
ROB RIGGLE (Celia)
Adult Richie needs someone who can handle a boisterous personality, affinity for characters, and a trash mouth, as Richie’s nickname suggests. I see a bit of Trashmouth Tozier in Rob Riggle. Hot-headed and always with perfectly timed jokes, Riggle screams Richie to me! Sure, we might have to add in a little backstory of how a scrawny Richie turned into a DJ with the body of a Marine, but I’m willing to let that slide so long as I can hear Riggle recite one-liners without cracking a smile.
ZACH WOODS (Jackie)
Richie is the smart-mouthed member of the Losers Club who ends up finding his future in comedy. Like Isla Fisher, Zach Woods is known for comedic roles like Gabe on The Office and Jared on Silicon Valley, which is fitting for the Richie character. However, seeing Woods play someone with more confidence could be a fun change for both him and the audience.
ZACHARY LEVI (Chase)
Richie was by far the hardest choice for my casting. Going through names like Bill Hader, Topher Grace, Sam Rockwell, and Andy Samberg, I finally decided on the one actor that should have come to this director’s brain instantly – the name of an actor who can be simultaneously funny, sarcastic, strong and timid while still being a loveable person who everyone gravitates towards. The amazing actor for My Choice: ZACHARY LEVI.
JASON BIGGS (Brandy)
I think Jason Biggs matches the look of the young Richie (Finn Wolfhard). He’s a very funny guy, and I would love to see him in a horror film. In the original, Richie had an almost awkward humor that I think Biggs could match perfectly.
GIOVANNI RIBISI (Ahlissa)
This man can do no wrong in my eyes. Having done a plethora of weird and wonderful characters, he’s shown that he isn’t scared to go to the limit. There’s a mischievous quality to him, even with his age, that I think adult Tozier would still possess as well. He may be more well-known than some others but he’s deserving of recognition.
BILL DENBROUGH
OUR PICKS
JASON BATEMAN (Nico)
Jason Bateman as grown up Bill just makes the most sense to me. He has the charm and charisma to be the leader of The Losers and still be intense to go toe to toe with IT for one final showdown. Plus seeing Jason Bateman in a horror film would be pretty epic.
NATHAN FILLION (Celia)
I can see Nathan Fillion being a good pick for Bill for a few reasons. He’s a leader as shown in his voice work for first-person shooter games like Destiny and Halo. He’s portrayed a writer in the show Castle, much like adult Bill. Fillion is all things moral and right in the world. While I admit I haven’t seen Fillion in too many things, his face just looks like one you can trust.
TOPHER GRACE (Jackie)
Topher Grace can be the leader of a group, however misfit, as we’ve seen in That ‘70s Show. For the role of Bill, though, Grace would lend his likability and everyman vibe; he can be commanding or quiet and can be somewhat awkward without going over-the-top. These are all characteristics that mesh with who Bill Denbrough is.
JOSH HARTNETT (Chase)
My choice for Bill may be the most controversial and is the one that comes closest to breaking my own rules. But I can completely see this actor as the reluctant, yet charismatic leader of the Loser’s Club, whose past wounds and experiences have inspired the darkness to come out in his creative writing pursuits. Forever blaming himself for losing his brother, I needed an actor whose eyes alone could tell the story of the torture hidden deep within, while his charisma and determination inspired others to follow him. My Choice: JOSH HARTNETT.
FRANKIE MUNIZ (Brandy)
I think the kid who plays Bill in the first remake (Jaeden Lieberher) looks very similar to Frankie Muniz. I had seen Frankie in an episode of Criminal Minds, and I think he could handle the action and fear of this film.
MAX IRONS (Ahlissa)
Son of acting vet Jeremy Irons, Max Irons is known for small roles in films like ‘The Host’, ‘Red Riding Hood’, and’ Dorian Gray’, as well as TV spots on ‘The White Queen’ and ‘Tutankhamun’. To me though, the resemblance is uncanny. Aging makeup may be required though.
Agree or disagree with our list? Float over to the comments section and fire off with your dream cast for IT CHAPTER 2.
3 Comments
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Juanita Tancak wrote:
Some good choices. Would be a nice tribute to John Ritter to see Jason play Ben. I think he could definitely pull it off.
kate steventon wrote:
Some good choices as well as some more unusual ones. I see some resemblance between some of the actors you’ve cast, but some just don’t look like them at all. Weirdly, my favorite choice for Ben Hanscom is Josh Hartnett because they have the same eyes, but you cast him as Bill :). I hope they cast it soon anyway