IT cast guide: Pennywise actor, Losers Club, and key characters

What this site covers (and how to use it)

This site provides a comprehensive international reference for the IT cast across both major film adaptations: IT Chapter One (2017) and IT Chapter Two (2019). Whether you're looking for the Pennywise actor, the child and adult Losers Club actors, or a complete character-to-performer mapping, you'll find accurate, well-sourced information here. Our IT cast FAQ answers common questions, and our editorial standards page explains how we verify credits and maintain accuracy.

The IT film characters span two timelines—childhood in 1989 and adulthood in 2016—which means the ensemble is split between young performers in IT Chapter One cast and their adult counterparts in the IT Chapter Two cast. Director Andy Muschietti crafted a dual-timeline narrative that required careful casting continuity, pairing each child actor with an adult performer who could embody the same character decades later. This guide maps those relationships clearly, helping international audiences understand how the Stephen King IT actors fit together across both films.

We rely on authoritative sources to ensure accuracy. Key references include Wikipedia's IT (2017 film) entry, Wikipedia's IT Chapter Two page, and Encyclopaedia Britannica's Stephen King biography. These resources provide stable, verifiable cast credits that we cross-reference to maintain the highest editorial standards. For broader context on film and horror cinema, we also consult BBC Culture's film coverage.

Quick facts: films, timelines, and casting approach

The IT film series is structured as a two-part adaptation of Stephen King's 1986 novel. IT Chapter One (2017) focuses on the Losers Club as children in the summer of 1989, when they first confront the shape-shifting entity known as Pennywise. IT Chapter Two (2019) follows the same characters 27 years later, as adults who must return to their hometown of Derry, Maine, to finish what they started. This dual-timeline structure required the production to cast both child and adult ensembles, with each young performer carefully matched to an adult actor who could continue the character's emotional arc.

The IT films employ a unique casting strategy: two timelines, one shared set of characters, requiring both child and adult performers to embody the same roles across a 27-year narrative span.

It's worth noting that many audiences remember Tim Curry's portrayal of Pennywise in the 1990 television miniseries. While that adaptation holds a special place in horror history, this site focuses exclusively on the 2017 and 2019 theatrical films, where Bill Skarsgård took on the iconic clown role. The theatrical films represent a complete reimagining with a significantly larger budget, updated visual effects, and a more expansive exploration of the source material.

IT cast table: character, child actor, adult actor

The following table maps major characters to their respective performers across both films. This horror movie ensemble represents one of the most ambitious casting efforts in recent Stephen King adaptation cast history, requiring seamless transitions between child and adult portrayals of the same individuals.

Character notes: how the ensemble fits together

Understanding the individual characters helps clarify how this horror movie ensemble functions as a cohesive unit. Each member of the Losers Club brings distinct strengths and vulnerabilities, and the casting choices reflect those narrative requirements.

Pennywise the Dancing Clown

Bill Skarsgård's portrayal of Pennywise anchors both films as the primary antagonist. His performance combines physical menace with psychological manipulation, using the clown persona to exploit childhood fears. Skarsgård brings an otherworldly quality to the role, including the ability to move his eyes independently—a natural trait that director Andy Muschietti incorporated to enhance the character's unsettling presence. Unlike traditional horror villains, Pennywise is a shape-shifter, and Skarsgård's work provides the consistent visual and vocal identity that grounds the entity across its many forms.

Bill Denbrough

As the de facto leader of the Losers Club, Bill is driven by guilt over his younger brother Georgie's disappearance. Jaeden Martell portrays the determined, stuttering child who rallies his friends, while James McAvoy takes on the adult version—a successful author still haunted by unresolved trauma. The casting emphasises Bill's role as the emotional and strategic centre of the group, with both actors conveying a quiet intensity that motivates the ensemble's collective action against Pennywise.

Beverly Marsh

Beverly's arc explores survival, agency, and the long-term effects of abuse. Sophia Lillis delivers a nuanced performance as the young Beverly, balancing vulnerability with fierce independence. Jessica Chastain continues that trajectory in Chapter Two, portraying an adult Beverly who has escaped one abusive situation only to find herself in another. The character serves as both a fighter within the group and a symbol of resilience, and the casting choices reflect the need for performers who can convey strength without sacrificing emotional complexity.

Richie Tozier

Richie functions as the group's comic relief, using humour to deflect fear and mask deeper insecurities. Finn Wolfhard's energetic, motor-mouthed performance in Chapter One establishes the character's defensive wit, while Bill Hader expands on that foundation in Chapter Two, revealing the pain beneath the jokes. Hader's background in comedy allows him to navigate Richie's tonal shifts—from laugh-out-loud moments to quietly devastating revelations—making him one of the most emotionally resonant characters in the adult timeline.

Eddie Kaspbrak

Eddie's character is defined by hypochondria and an overbearing mother, yet he repeatedly demonstrates unexpected bravery. Jack Dylan Grazer captures the anxious, fast-talking child whose fear is constantly at war with his loyalty to his friends. James Ransone mirrors that energy as the adult Eddie, maintaining the character's nervous mannerisms while showing how those traits have calcified into adult neuroses. The casting continuity between Grazer and Ransone is particularly strong, with both actors sharing a similar physical energy and vocal cadence.

Mike Hanlon

Mike serves as the historian and memory-keeper of the group, the one who remains in Derry and calls the others back when Pennywise returns. Chosen Jacobs portrays the thoughtful, observant child who begins documenting the town's dark history, while Isaiah Mustafa plays the adult Mike—isolated, determined, and burdened by knowledge. The character's role shifts between the two films, with the adult version taking on greater narrative responsibility as the one who has spent 27 years preparing for the entity's return.

Viewing tips for tracking the ensemble

• Watch IT Chapter One first to establish the childhood dynamics and character relationships.
• Pay attention to visual and behavioural cues that link child and adult performances—many actors studied their younger counterparts' mannerisms.
• Note that Chapter Two uses extensive flashbacks, so child actors return; these scenes provide additional context and emotional closure.
• The films are designed to be watched in release order, with Chapter Two assuming familiarity with the first film's events and character development.

References and further reading

Accurate cast information relies on stable, authoritative sources. Film credits can vary by region, release format, and database, so we prioritise references that maintain editorial oversight and verifiable citation standards. This approach ensures that the IT cast information presented here reflects official credits rather than speculation or unverified claims.

For detailed production information and cast verification, we recommend consulting the Wikipedia entries for IT (2017 film) and IT Chapter Two. For broader context on Stephen King's work and influence, Encyclopaedia Britannica's Stephen King biography provides reliable background. Our editorial standards page explains our verification process in detail, and our IT cast FAQ addresses common questions about specific actors and casting decisions.