One of the most highly-anticipated horror movies coming down the pipe is IT: Chapter 2, which will see director Andy Muschietti bring back The Losers Club (this time in adult form) to have another showdown with Pennywise the Dancing Clown (Bill Skarsgård) decades after their initial battle. The film has made headlines for the casting of fan-favorites like Richie (Bill Hader) and Beverly (Jessica Chastain), and now we have another original IT character to look forward to, this time on the villainous side of things. That's right, folks: in addition to Bill Skarsgård's return as Pennywise, the next IT movie is also going to bring back Henry Bowers.
This development was not necessarily a given after seeing the original IT. Though Henry Bowers does play a significant role in the adult portion of Stephen King's original IT novel, the cinematic Henry Bowers (played by Nicholas Hamilton in the first movie) was given an ambiguous fate after falling down a well during the climactic sequence of the movie. However, now we can confirm that the sequel will honor the source material and bring him back into the fold, as Altered Carbon actor Teach Grant has been cast to take on the role of adult Henry Bowers.
Signing on for IT: Chapter 2 feels very on-brand for an actor with Teach Grant's chops. Largely known for his television work in recent years, he has played numerous roles in horror and sci-fi projects, such as Van Helsing, Supernatural and Almost Human.
Of course, the return of Henry Bowers isn't the only development worth getting excited about. In addition to the report of Teach Grant joining the IT: Chapter 2 cast as Henry Bowers, Variety has also revealed that the highly-anticipated sequel has landed Jess Weixler as the wife of Bill Denbrough, who was played by Jaeden Lieberher in the first film and will be played by Split star James McAvoy in the sequel.
Taking place 27 years after the events of the original movie, IT: Chapter 2 will see The Losers Club return to Derry, Maine for another battle against the demonic entity that haunted them as children. In the novel, Henry Bowers is framed by IT for the murders that take place in Derry during the childhood-set story, and he escapes from a mental hospital decades later to go after The Losers Club while under Pennywise's control. We don't know if this is how it will go down in the upcoming film adaptation, but that's the foundation that Andy Muschietti is working with. Moreover, the sequel is already aiming to embrace much of the weirdness and shocking nastiness that characterizes the adult half of Stephen King's novel, so the return of Henry Bowers (and the debut of Bill's wife) feels like a critical piece of the puzzle that will lead to a proper adaptation.
IT: Chapter 2 is currently set to hit theaters next year on September 6, 2019. Make sure to stay tuned for more updates related to the film, and if you want to learn more about what we already know, then you can head over to our comprehensive IT: Chapter 2 guide!
