Actor Narrowly Misses Major Horror Role, Lands Prequel Gig Instead

In a twist of fate, actor Stephen Rider has found himself involved in the It franchise, despite narrowly missing out on a key role in the sequel film. Rider, a veteran with 15 years of journalism experience, reveals that he originally auditioned for the part of adult Mike Hanlon in 2019's It Chapter Two.

Rider made it far into the casting process, even flying out to Toronto to meet with the film's director, Andy Muschietti, and the production team. However, the role ultimately went to actor Isaiah Mustafa. Muschietti explained that he wanted the character to physically resemble the younger version of Mike, played by Chosen Jacobs in the first It movie.

While Rider was "devastated" to miss out on the part, Muschietti assured him that he wanted to work with the actor in future projects. That opportunity has now come to fruition, as Rider has been cast in the prequel series It: Welcome to Derry, where he will portray the character of Hank, the local movie theater operator.

The new series, which is set in the 1960s, will explore the town of Derry's dark history and the cyclical nature of the It entity's return every 27 years. Rider's character Hank is the father of Ronnie, one of the show's young protagonists.

Despite the initial disappointment, Rider is grateful for the chance to be involved in the It universe, even if it's not in the role he initially envisioned. The actor's perseverance and Muschietti's commitment to working with him have led to this unexpected opportunity.