Jessica Chastain
That the second silver screen instalment of Stephen King’s morbid magnum opus, It, has enticed a star of Jessica Chastain’s calibre to take the lead must go some way to underlining its literary standing. For Chastain, the project represents a first foray into the horror genre in a varied career that has so far tackled everything from sci-fi(The Martian) to drama (The Zookeeper’s Wife) and even a comic book adaptation (Dark Phoenix). For the producers behind It Chapter Two, Chastain resembles something of a coup – for the Sacramento-born actress has of late been strengthening her position at the pinnacle of her profession. What’s more, her recent turns in Woman Walks Ahead and Molly’s Game have given Chastain the gratifying opportunity to portray strong, independent women. There’s little doubt then that the star will bring the same kind of agency she seeks out in other roles to her portrayal of Beverly Marsh, the only female member of the childhood gang who are the protagonists of King’s grisly novel.
‘I want to be able to play characters that will represent women as leaders and fighters,’ says Chastain. ‘For too long, women have not been given the place that we deserve in terms of our contribution to society and our role in history. We also need to be shown in many different lights – as caring and loving individuals in addition to being intelligent and creative. I’ve always believed that women need to be able to work hard to change society and contribute in every way they can.’