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Stephen King’s ‘It’ Remake Reportedly Almost Cast Hugo Weaving As Pennywise The Dancing Clown [Video]

By Patricia Ramirez
Published on: 19:27 PST, Dec 1, 2016

Fans of Stephen King’s It are edging ever-closer to a revamped version of the 1990 TV miniseries; a two-part big-screen remake of the iconic classic based on King’s 1986 novel of the same name is coming next September. The It remake is being “remade” by Andy Muschietti, and the production and casting process have been avidly watched by excited horror fans for months.

Arguably the most iconic role in Stephen King’s It is that of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. In the 1990, made-for-TV cult classic, the role of Pennywise (whose not really a clown at all, but something darker and much more sinister) was played by the incomparable Tim Curry. Many fans familiar with the old version have argued that there’s not an actor alive who can touch what Tim Curry did as Pennywise, and so it might just be better to leave it alone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w70s3AhPZc

The casting directors of the upcoming remake of Stephen King’s It definitely had their work cut out for them, and when the “new” Pennywise was announced, even the most critical scrutinizers of the filmmakers’ creative process were largely satisfied with who got the part. That’s because Pennywise the Dancing Clown is to be played by none other than Hemlock Grove’s Bill Skarsgard. If that name sounds familiar, it could be because Bill Skarsgard is the younger brother of True Blood and Tarzan hottie Alexander Skarsgard.

Bill Skarsgard comes complete with the statuesque Scandinavian-ness of big bro Alexander, but he’s also got something much darker and more mysterious going on, something that could make his rendition of Pennywise in the remake of Stephen King’s It totally legendary. Not to mention that 26-year-old Bill oozes the ability to effortlessly channel a young Tim Curry, something that should satisfy even the most critical It fans.

There’s just something about that face that screams that the Stephen King’s It remake’s new demonic clown monster will be the stuff of nightmares and a new generation of storm drain phobias.

When the first look at Bill as Pennywise went public, people went nuts with terrifying anticipation.

The same thing happened with the It remake’s new drainpipe-dwelling bad guy was featured in a sneak peek from the set.

All in all, Stephen King fans old and new seem to be hopping on the Bill Skarsgard bandwagon when it comes to the 2017 remake. However, as MoviePilot reports, that could all change now that the world is learning who else was in the running for the coveted part. That man was none other than Hugo Weaving. If his name doesn’t sound familiar, the roles played by the runner-up in the race to play Pennywise in the remake of Stephen King’s It certainly should.

That’s because Weaving has been the face and talent behind some of the most iconic characters in modern movie history. One of his most memorable parts was that of Agent Smith in The Matrix trilogy; he was also Elrond in The Lord of the Rings films, scored the title role in V for Vendetta, and has had parts in blockbusters such as Cloud Atlas,Transformers, and Captain America. Not a bad resume for the guy who wasn’t picked to star in the It remake.

The news that the world was this close to seeing the part of Pennywise played by Hugo Weaving was announced on Instagram, along with a photo that inspires thoughts of all of the potential nightmares that will never be based on a single casting decision. That’s not to say that Bill Skarsgard didn’t win his part fair and square, but there’s just something about the thought of Agent Smith being the man behind the makeup and floppy shoes that sends chills down the spine.

Check out the pic that might have wrecked lives with the knowledge of what not to be.

There you have it, Hugo Weaving. The Pennywise that never was.

Fans eager to check out the remake of Stephen King’s It don’t have long to wait; part one of the two-part horror fest hits theaters September 8, 2017.

[Featured Image by Warner Bros./ABC]

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