It: Chapter 2 – Why Amy Adams would make the perfect Beverly Marsh
By Wesley Lara
GIFFONI VALLE PIANA, ITALY – JULY 18: (EDITORS NOTE: This image has been converted in black and white) Actress Amy Adams attends Giffoni Film Festival 2017 blue carpet on July 18, 2017 in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images for Giffoni)
The tremendous critical and financial success of It has already sparked talk about the upcoming sequel, titled Chapter 2. There has not been much released but all we do know is that the kids will be replaced by their older adult counterparts. This begs the question: who should be the one to play the sole female member of The Losers Club?
The historic success of the beloved Stephen King adaptation has opened the door for many possibilities. It has opened the window of opportunity for R-rated horror films to receive much larger support. It has skyrocketed the careers of several young talents that are destined for bigger things. But most of all, it has kicked open the door to a surefire sequel to come on down the road in the future.
With the sequel for It taking place 27 years after the events of the first film, it means that those lovable (and extremely annoying) kids will now be full-fledged adults. From that group, a lot of speculation has focused on who would play the adult version of Beverly Marsh, the lone female Loser of the group. Sure, her character definitely isn’t as well-written as her literary counterpart, but hopes are still high for her adult version to knock it out of the park. But who would be the best casting choice for Bev? My personal choice: the Oscar-nominated actress herself, Amy Adams.
Call me crazy, but to this writer, the decision to cast Amy Adams in the It sequel should be obvious right from the get go. With the film getting as much traction as it’s been getting this past week, the budget for the film is sure to increase by a bit. At least enough to possibly get some bigger stars in it. Bigger may not always be better in terms of actors, but with the talented Amy Adams, I think the developers can make an exception.
Appearance
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/ IT/ Acquired from WB Media Pass
Starting with the most obvious reason for Amy Adams’ potential casting, the similar appearances of her and Sophia Lillis are close to completely uncanny. The red hair is one of the most obvious catches on first look. Having the same hair color is already instrumental in qualifying Adams simply on appearance. Sure, the adult version could have a different hair color and use the excuse of erasing their connection to Derry as a way to squeeze that by. But if we’re going by completely or mostly accurate character appearances, the red hair is kind of set in stone.
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 17: Actress Amy Adams attends the ‘Nocturnal Animals’ premiere at The Paris Theatre on November 17, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Going further than hair color, Adams and Lillis’ similar appearances largely stem from their similar onscreen presence. Both actresses have a tendency to dominate the screen with a cool but subtly reserved attitude that fits the character of Beverly Marsh to a tee. It is a story that focuses equally on the characters like it focuses on the horror aspect and Amy Adams has loads of character when she acts on-screen. It’s entirely believable to see Adams emulating from Sophia’s breakout performance to make adult Bev into her own character.
Experience with Horror
But, when it comes down to who is the perfect choice for Adult Beverly, we gotta boil right down to one thing: if the actress can do well at acting scared. After all, a traumatic childhood event like battling both a murderous entity and an abusive father has got to take its toll on a person. Luckily, Adams is no stranger when it comes to the horror genre. She may be well-known for her recent performances in films like Nocturnal Animals and Arrival, but hardcore viewers will also remember her early days cutting her teeth in horror/black comedies. Much like Matthew McConaughey in his early work, Adams was no stranger to the weird and the wacky, as evidenced by her role in the horror spoof comedy, Psycho Beach Party. Charming name, right? With a premise involving a serial killer murdering people at a beach-side town, the campy horror is there in all its glory and Adams revels in what short (and admittedly questionable) screen time she receives.
Hell, her film debut was in the 1999 mockumentary horror-comedy, Drop Dead Gorgeous. Building off of a premise involving beauty pageant contestants ending up in grisly situations, Adams hams up the screen with gusto and provides a standout performance in an otherwise forgettable film. But what’s my point with these examples? My point is that Amy Adams is not the type of actor to be “untouchable” by horror standards. Having done her fair share of low-budget horror films, Adams’ familiarity with the horror genre would grant her the necessary experience desired with winning a huge role as Beverly. Plus, if the script is as good as or possibly even better than the first film, than it can give Adams tons of material to work with. It may not be a campy spook tale, but that doesn’t mean that Adams’ experience in it wouldn’t make her at least a little more qualified than other potential actors.
Versatility
Perhaps the most telling quality of Adams’ qualification for Adult Beverly is her incredible range as an actor. I’ve already discussed her ability to ham it up and give wild performances in horror films, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg with her. Whatever personality traits Beverly has, Adams can either naturally possess or do a damn good job at acting as if she has those same traits. Beverly is the lone charmer of the group, easily standing out over genuinely kind personality, which Adams can do in her sleep. Not only do her real-life interviews deliver this aspect in spades, but she has the every woman charm in projects such as Sunshine Cleaning and The Office. She can serve up that genuine Bev charm with commitment and gusto.
More importantly, arguably the most important aspect of Bev’s character is her insane willpower and heart. A fierce and confident protagonist in every sense of the word, Bev is one of the perfect foils to the destructive Pennywise and Amy Adams is someone whom I believe would be dynamite in that role. Adams’ roles also contain the type of heart that Bev has, whether it be in a goofy manner with Enchanted, a timid but caring manner in Doubt, or in a commanding method, such as in last year’s Arrival. Whatever emotion Bev is feeling, Adams can do wonders in translating that onto screen.
Next: Stephen King’s It: Who should play the Loser’s Club men?
Only Time Will Tell
Photo Brooke Palmer Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/ IT/ Acquired from WB Media Pass
While we’re more than likely still a ways away from an official announcement from the creators, I do hope that both they are interested in casting her and if Amy Adams herself is interested in adding herself to the It lore in the future. The casting choices for the first film were fairly spot-on, so I trust that the developers and heads of casting will make the right choice for when its time. But I will say that no matter who wins the Beverly Marsh role, I’ll still secretly hope for the Adams/Bev that not only do I personally want, but I feel that everyone needs.
It is currently out in theaters nationwide now.