Now that IT is a certified smash hit, one can assume that many involved in the film have already turned some attention to the inevitable sequel, and that might even include going after some dream casting options. The big question about IT: Chapter 2 is, who will be cast to play the adult versions of the kids from the first movie? One of the biggest discussions has been about Jessica Chastain potentially taking the role of the adult Beverly. Now, it looks like that idea has some possibility of actually becoming real. Jessica Chastain has previously worked with director Andy Muschietti, and the two have apparently already been in touch, as Muschietti knows that Chastain loved the movie. If Chastain wants the role, it looks like it's hers. According to Muschietti...
Jessi is an amazing actress and very good friend and I would love her to play Beverly. Yeah, she loves the movie and it feels like the planets are aligned in that sense, but we still have to make that happen. There are a lot of ideas for the rest of the cast that I'm playing with, but it's a bit too premature to say those names right now.
Andy Muschietti previously worked with Jessica Chastain on the film Mama, and IT actress Sophia Lillis has already said that Chastain is the actress that she'd love to see play the adult version of her character Beverly. Now, if we read between the lines of what Mushietti said to Variety, it sounds like Lillis' dream choice has a decent shot at reality. He flat out states that he would love to have Chastain play the role, but he also says that he's playing with casting ideas for the rest of the roles, which could mean he's not really looking at ideas for Beverly right now, perhaps because he's waiting to see if casting Chastain will work out. At this point, we're at such an early point in the development of IT: Chapter 2 that even if Chastain was all-in for the movie, it doesn't even have a shooting schedule yet so the actress might not even know if she's available to be in it. There are many reasons it might not happen, but it sounds like there's a real chance it could.
It's not clear to what degree Jessica Chastain and Andy Muschietti have talked about IT. It's possible her comments to him that she liked the movie came in a brief email or text, just a friend telling him that she liked his work, or it could have potentially been part of a larger conversation, though that's entirely speculation at this point.
If every kid from IT gets their dream choice to play their older selves, the cast of IT: Chapter 2 could turn out to be one of the most star-studded ever. Of course, considering how successful IT was without a big name in the cast, maybe going for broke in the sequel isn't a crazy idea.
