James McAvoy and Bill Hader in Talks for IT Chapter 2!

James McAvoy and Bill Hader in talks for IT Chapter 2

Following the news earlier today that the upcoming IT Chapter 2 will begin filming this summer, The Hollywood Reporter brings word that James McAvoy (X-Men: Days of Future Past, Split) and Bill Hader (Barry, Saturday Night Live) are in talks to join the cast of the film.

Should they sign on, McAvoy would play the grown-up version of Bill Benbrough, played by Jaeden Lieberher in the first film, while Hader would play the grown-up version of Richie Tozier, played by Stranger Things‘ Finn Wolfhard in the first film. The pair would join Jessica Chastain as the adult Beverly Marsh.

The second part of IT is written by Gary Dauberman, directed once again by Andy Muschietti, and will hit theaters on September 6, 2019.  Bill Skarsgård is also set to return as the clown Pennywise for the sequel.

IT debuted in September of last year to the tune of $123.1 million on opening weekend, the highest opening weekend ever for a September release, for a fall release, and for a horror movie. It clocked in just $9 million behind Deadpool for the second-highest opening for an R-rated movie. The film earned over $700 million at the worldwide box office, making it the highest-grossing horror movie of all time.

IT starred Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer and Nicholas Hamilton.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)