- Anthony Burrows, Darkness Falls, 2003. In his one and only (and uncredited) movie role, Burrows inherited The Tooth Fairy from Jones, when SFX make-up wiz Stan Winston changed the demonic design of Matilda Dixon’s ghost of the old woman. Jones made more than 150 films, mostly horror and/or Guillermo del Toro and nearly beneath special make-up – a daily six hours’ worth for his Abe Sapien in del Toro’s Hellboy, 2004.
- Lee Pace, The Hobbit trilogy, 2011-2012.
- Bill Skarsgård, It, 2016. There was talk over seven years about re-hashing the version made in 1990 – when Stellan Skarsgård’s son/Alexander Tarzan Skarsgård’s brother was born. Tim Curry would not reprise his shape-shifting clown from the mini-series. The instant rumours included Jim Carrey, Mark Rylance, Tilda Swinton and, naturally, Johnny Depp and Jackie Earl Haley. Ben Mendelsohn, Hollywood’s busiest Aussie since 2010, proved too pricey. Will Poulter was chosen by director Cary Joli Fukunaga, before quitting over artistic differences (true for once). New helmer Andy Muschietti said Poulter was a great option, but was not free for the delayed shoot. Andy auditioned Stephen R Hart, Doug Jones (the terrific future Saru in Star Trek: Discovery, 2017-2021), Brian Safi, Timothy Simmons, Hugo Weaving but gave Pennywise to Bill – the kid with Strabismus – he’s able to simultaneously move his eyes in different directions. Great for “such an extreme character… beyond sociopath, because he’s not even human. I’m playing just one of the beings It creates.” Tim Curry thought Bill “very clever, very good.” “Spectacularly scary, the stuff of nightmare,” added Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers. The public agreed and the 225th of King’s staggering 313 screen credits was his biggest hit! A sequel was guaranteed – and made in 2018.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 3