How to Get Cast on ‘Welcome to Derry’

The “It” prequel series takes place in the 1960s and explores the origin story of the horror classic’s villain, Pennywise. As noted in the films, Pennywise returns to Derry every 27 years to torment the town’s residents in unimaginable, often deadly ways. Max’s show highlights the string of tragic events that ensue during Pennywise’s periodic reemergences.

 Bill Skarsgård returns as Pennywise in "Welcome to Derry." Along with Skarsgård, these actors also have starring roles:

• Madeleine Stowe
• James Remar
• Taylour Paige
• Jovan Adepo
• Chris Chalk
• Chad Rook
• Stephen Rider
• Rudy Mancuso
• Jake Gosden

Rich Delia (“Scream”) and Stephanie Gorin (TV’s “Fargo”) are currently attached to HBO Max’s new project, serving as casting directors on Season 1 of “Welcome to Derry.” They also worked with director Andy Muschietti on 2017’s “It” and 2019’s “It Chapter 2,” casting the filmmaker’s interpretation of the Stephen King novel.

Having started his career as an actor, Delia knows what it’s like to be on the other side of the table, so he keeps that perspective front and center during every audition. “I try to approach casting from the actor’s point of view and remember what they’re going through,” Delia told us. “I try to make it as relaxing of an environment as I can, [one] that allows them to do their best work.”

“When they do their best work, I can do my best work,” he continued. “Auditioning is very hard, and it’s a skill that you have to hone. Everyone achieves their results differently, so I give a lot of leeway, understanding that actors need to go through their process to be able to do their best work.”

Because he was once an actor, Delia brings an empathetic perspective and approach to the audition process. 

“We try to space it out so an actor has enough time to work through their process, and they’re not coming into a cattle call situation. I try to give actors their moment in the waiting room to prep without being surrounded by 10,000 people,” he said. “I very rarely direct anything before the first take because I like to see what they bring to the table. Sometimes actors I really respond to make strong, unique choices. I want to see their instincts before I give any direction to them. I try to adjust my job to whatever their process is, because I think rather than imposing my will on them, I [should] let them be and see what comes up.”

But there are certain things you should not do if you hope to impress Delia. First and foremost? Don’t be tardy. “Acting is a profession; we’re hiring professionals. So if someone shows up late, how do I know if I cast this person that they’re not going to show up late on the job? Fifty percent of why I’m hiring that person is what they’re doing with the character, and 50 percent is asking, ‘Can I trust this person on set?’” he explained. “I think it sets a bad tone for the beginning of the audition, especially if you have a director or producer waiting. Be respectful of everyone else’s time.”

Secondly, don’t assume you know what the CD wants to see. Instead, make a bold choice—your choice—and do so with confidence. “When an actor comes in and shows us their perception of the character, they have an opportunity to make an impression because they are making strong choices,” Delia added. “Those choices are coming from within them. They’re not saying, ‘I think this is what the CD or director wants.’ It’s how they see the character. It’s not making a different choice just for the sake of being different, but you can walk out of that room saying you were that character for five minutes, you did it exactly how you see it, and if they like it, great—and if not, at least you were in control and did what you wanted to do.”

Welcome to Derry” began production in May 2023 and was expected to last through December 2023, with a projected premiere date of sometime in 2024. However, due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, production was halted, delaying its debut until 2025.

Filming resumed in the summer of 2024, with production wrapping up in August. The prequel series hit the streamer Oct. 26 with the series finale (Episode 8) set for December 14.

There are no active casting calls at the moment. In the meantime, you should check out our roundup of major network and streaming gigs that are casting now and our guide on how to audition for HBO Max. You might also want to bookmark our main casting page for updates on the latest opportunities.

“It: Chapter Two” Courtesy Warner Bros.

Discover what drives you to create: As a young Black woman in entertainment, Taylour Paige has had to overcome adversity from all angles. But by refusing to let Hollywood define her, Paige was able to find what truly drives her desire to act. “[I] had to stop apologizing—apologizing for my space and waiting for the world to inform me who I was,” Paige told Marie Claire. “So much of acting is waiting for someone to say you’re good enough.”

Paige suggests looking deep within yourself to identify what drives that desire to create. Once you define your purpose, you can better steer your career, putting heart and soul into all you do. “You have a good career and make some money, you have a house, you have some kids—or not. But what are you leaving behind? What are you even doing it for? Are you having fun? Are you any good? Are you kind? Do you make people feel good? Do you make people feel like s**t?” she posited to ET Online. “I want to live a life where, like, by the time I'm done and I take my last breath and I graduate to the next classroom, I've given it all and it can echo and inspire, but also you can feel I'm no different than you.”

Don’t allow the industry to dictate your career: Echoing Paige’s sentiment, Chris Chalk wants up-and-comers to understand there’s a place for everyone in the industry. That’s why he’s so enthusiastic about coaching young actors, as acting school didn’t prepare him for the realities of life as an actor. 

“[T]here’s so much I didn’t know that they should have been teaching where it’s like the teachers aren’t in the business so they don’t know. They don’t know the ins and outs of the stuff that’s really easy to avoid, and most of it’s mindset stuff. They teach us as artists…you’re lucky if you make it. Whereas that’s not completely true, if you change your mindset and you really focus on what you want…it’s not the easiest job in the world but there’s so much out there today that there’s enough jobs for everybody,” Chalk told the Daily Actor.

“Every mouth can be fed if you kind of learn what you are as an artist, what your brand is and what you really want. Instead of letting the industry dictate it for you,” he said. “Because it’s tough to let the industry dictate because then you’ll end up anywhere, but if you can start to kind of control it and take risks on yourself, those [are] the people that end up working.” In place of the fear his teachers instilled, Chalk added, he wants to impart hope and encouragement.

Allow your performance to speak for you: Delia can tell if you’re nervous when you walk in the room, and, as he told us, nerves are often the manifestation of “wanting to please people, wanting to leave a good impression, wanting to make sure your agent likes you and the producers like you and the CD likes you and everyone likes you.” But that’s not the character’s concern; actors should align their audition with the character’s wants and needs.

“So if you go into an office trying to make friends and make people like you, you’re not executing why you’re there,” Delia explained. “You’re there to bring out what the character wants. As much as you can, lean into the scene and say and execute what the character needs and wants. I’ve had actors come in where I know the actors, I know that they’re nice people, but maybe the character they’re playing is standoffish and not so nice. They come in with an attitude. I understand that’s not the actor, that’s the character. I would never hold that against an actor. It’s not about that. It’s about showing us who the character is.”