Welcome to Derry Star Has Surprise Connection to It Horror Movies

Actor Stephen Rider has revealed that he almost appeared in Andy Muschietti‘s It franchise six years before the HBO prequel series, Welcome to Derry.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rider revealed that he originally auditioned for the role of adult Mike Hanlon in 2019’s It Chapter Two, making it so far into the process that he actually screen tested for the character. Muschietti ultimately cast Isaiah Mustafa in the role.

What did Stephen Rider say about missing out on It Chapter Two?

“I flew out to Toronto, met [executive producer] Barbara [Muschietti], met the whole staff,” recalled Rider to Entertainment Weekly. “They showed me what they were creating and everything. We had an incredible connection. Isaiah Mustafa ended up getting the part, and a big part of it was that [Andy] wanted the character to look and resemble all of the kids when they were younger.” Chosen Jacobs portrayed the younger version of Mike Hanlon in the two-part It duology.

“Mike needed to be weathered because he was the only character that stayed actually in the town, whereas everybody else got a chance to forget about everything that was going on,” continued the actor. “So it came down to that. I’m not getting the part and was devastated. [Andy] sent me an email just saying, ‘It was the hardest decision I had to make thus far as a director, but I genuinely want to work with you in future films.’ And six years later, this came to be somehow.”

In Welcome to Derry, Rider stars as part of the main cast in the role of Hank Grogan.

Despite losing out on the role, Rider remains connected to Mike Hanlon, as It: Welcome to Derry is based on the interlude chapters in King’s novel that the character assembled to serve as the unofficial history of Derry. Muschietti has a three-season plan for the prequel series, with each season winding the clock back a further 27 years. Season 1 takes place in 1962 and focuses on a couple moving to Derry, Maine, with their son just as a young boy disappears. With their arrival, very bad things begin to happen in the town.

It: Welcome to Derry is slated to premiere on HBO on October 26, 2025.

Originally reported by Lee Freitag for SuperHeroHype.

Source: Comingsoon.net