Bill Skarsgard to play Pennywise in Stephen King's 'It'

LOS ANGELES, June 3 (UPI) -- Bill Skarsgard will star in a big-screen adaptation of Stephen King's It.

The 25-year-old Swedish actor is in final negotiations to play Pennywise the clown, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Sources told Variety Will Poulter and Hugo Weaving were also considered for the role.

Skarsgard would join Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs and Jeremy Ray Taylor, who are also being linked to the film. Mama helmer Andres Muschietti will direct in the wake of Cary Fukanaga's departure.

It will be split into a two-part adaptation, with the first movie to open Sept. 18, 2017. The films are based on King's novel of the same name, which was published in 1986 and previously adapted as a two-part TV movie with Tim Curry as Pennywise.

King's story follows a group of children terrorized by a shape-shifting creature that most often appears in the form of Pennywise. The first movie will follow the characters as kids, while the second will see the group reunite as adults.

Skarsgard is best known for playing Roman Godfrey on the Netflix series Hemlock Grove. He is the son of actor Stellan Skarsgard, who plays Erik Selvig in the Marvel cinematic universe, and the brother of True Blood star Alexander Skarsgard.