Coming out this week from Warner Bros. and New Line is IT Chapter Two, the sequel to the 2017 box office phenomenon IT that brings the Loser’s Club back to Derry, Maine 27-years later.
The main cast of IT Chapter 2 includes James McAvoy as Bill, Jessica Chastain as Beverly, Bill Hader as Richie, Jay Ryan as Ben and James Ransone as Eddie, with Andy Bean as Stanely Uris, Isaiah Mustafa as Mike, Teach Grant as Henry Bowers, Jess Weixler as Bill’s wife, Xavier Dolan as Adrian Mellon, Will Beinbrink as Tom Rogan and, of course, the return of Bill Skarsgård as the clown Pennywise.
Reprising their roles as the original members of the Losers Club are Jaeden Martell as Bill, Wyatt Oleff as Stanley, Sophia Lillis as Beverly, Finn Wolfhard as Richie, Jeremy Ray Taylor as Ben, Chosen Jacobs as Mike, and Jack Dylan Grazer as Eddie.
Twenty-seven years after the events of the summer of 1989, It (Bill Skarsgård) returns. The Losers’ Club fulfill their promises and return to Derry to put an end to the evil being once and for all. Unbeknownst to them, It has returned, stronger and crueler than ever.
Although he is best known his Old Spice television commercials, Mustafa gained visibility as Luke Garroway on Freeform’s fantasy series Shadowhunters. With the original film having done well critically and financially worldwide, this film should merit Mustafa’s biggest exposure to date. He recently spoke exclusively with Blackfilm.com about being cast in the film and his experience on the set.
How did you go about getting the role?
Isaiah Mustafa: I had auditioned for director Andy Muschietti a number of times. I had flown out to LA a few times and then I met with Andy and we had coffee. The second audition was pretty grueling. Those are like, emotional stuff going on there. After the fourth one, he had me do some more and that’s pretty much kind of how it all went down. It was a tough process but it worked out.
For those who may have not seen the first film, or may not have read the book, how would you describe your character?
Isaiah Mustafa: I would say that Mike is the catalyst that brings that brings the Losers Club back. He’s the catalyst that sets them on their path to defeating their their greatest fear.
Growing up, had you read the book Or did you have to catch up when you got cast in the film?
Isaiah Mustafa: I read the book, I read it a couple times. I also listened to the audio book a bunch. I had a good seven times that I’ve gone through the book, either through audio book or reading it that that was just it was ingrained in my head. It was fun.
Is there any difference between the book and the film?
Isaiah Mustafa: There’s always a difference between the book and the film. You’re just you’re going into a film thing, and you’re going to get every nuance of the book. Or every every aspect. There may be some disappointed but I think that book fans will go into this movie or come out of this movie, feeling that all their things that they held dear about the book well served because Andy has really taken the opportunity to really find those moments and find those things that people love about the book and brought them through in the film.
Because this is a huge cast between the adults and the kids, how was the chemistry like when you started shooting this film?
Isaiah Mustafa: The chemistry was great. We all went out to dinner a bunch of times, and we hung out. There were 16 hour days, and for the month of August, we had six days a week. So we spend a lot of time together. We all really got along and it made being friends on screen a lot easier because we became friends in real life.
The first film had folks terrified. Are we’re going to get the same thing in terms of holding onto our seats?
Isaiah Mustafa: I think so I haven’t seen the film yet. I only know what we shot. I’ve been saving that first viewing for the premiere but what I’ve heard, there’s just as many scares, if not more, and just as much blood if not more in this film.
For you as an actor, is this the biggest exposure you’ve had to date?
Isaiah Mustafa: Most definitely, I think this is probably a really fun opportunity. To be part of a cast with James, Jessica, Phil, Jay, TJ, and Andy, everyone is so talented, it was a great opportunity to get to play alongside of them.
With IT, people remembered the TV series. Why do you think the first film did so well that’s it’s caused a heavy anticipation for the second film?
Isaiah Mustafa: I think the coming of age aspect of the first film and the performances by the young actors and Bill Skarsgård is what set that film apart and made it the highest grossing R-rated horror film of all-time. People saw that it resonated with the coming of age aspect.
Without giving away any spoilers was any particular scene for you that had you more excited to do?
Isaiah Mustafa: The whole thing was exciting, I can’t really pinpoint pick out one particular scene because, again, I’m waiting to see it myself. Every day of shooting was was extremely fun and it was a pleasure to come on set because of who I was working with.
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