'IT 2' release date, plot & cast news: Production starts this summer; young Losers Club returning

The Losers Club in "IT: Chapter One."Warner Bros.

The story of Pennywise will continue with "IT 2" and it now has a potential start date.

Omega Underground is reporting that the sequel to last year's remake is eyeing to begin filming this summer. Stage work will reportedly take place at Pinewood Toronto Studios and partly at Port Hope, which doubled for the fictional town of Derry. The tentative start date is on June 18, which should put the film on track to wrap production by October or November this year.

"IT 2" will pick up 27 years after the events of the first film, this time taking place in 2017. The Losers Club would be adults by then and the majority of the story will revolve around grown-up versions but their young counterparts are expected to return in a smaller capacity, most likely in flashbacks. This is without any official announcement from Warner Bros., so it should be taken with a grain of salt. This does match Wyatt Oleff (Stanley) and Jeremy Ray Taylor's (Ben) responses when asked previously how they might appear in the second film.

"IT 2" has yet to begin casting, but there have been a few names linked to the project including Jessica Chastain. The "Miss Sloane" actress has voiced interest in playing adult Beverly, whose original portrayer, Sophia Lillis, also wants her for the role. Director Andy Muschietti is on board the idea as well, having worked with Chastain in his 2013 film, "Mama."

Other casting suggestions include Chadwick Boseman as Mike, Christian Bale as Bill, Jake Gyllenhaal as Eddie, Chris Pratt as Benn, and Joseph Gordon Levitt as Stan. Again, no actor has been confirmed to date, except for Bill Skarsgard who will reprise his role of Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

Plot-wise, details are scarce; although Skarsgard is hopeful that "Chapter Two" would dig deeper into the demented mind of his character and his "cosmological existence."

The "IT" sequel will premiere on September 6, 2019.