After lots of behind the scenes turmoil, the upcoming big screen adaptation of Stephen King's horror classic "It" has found its new villain: Actor Bill Skarsgard will play Pennywise the Clown.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Skarsgard, the star of Netflix series "Hemlock Grove" (and son of Stellan Skarsgard and brother of Alexander Skarsgard), will step into the iconic role, which was originated in a 1990 TV miniseries by Tim Curry. Skarsgard will take over for the previously-cast Will Poulter ("We're the Millers," "The Revenant"), who eventually left the project amid scheduling conflicts after the initial director, Cary Fukunaga, also departed, putting the production into a year-long delay.

But now that director Andy Muschietti ("Mama") has taken the reins, the project is back on track, and finding the perfect Pennywise was one of the keys to filling out the "It" cast. The ensemble also includes Jaeden Lieberher ("St. Vincent"), Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, and Jeremy Ray Taylor.

"It" will be told in two parts, with the first film focusing on a group of kids who fight the mysterious titular monster, which frequently appears to them in the form of Pennywise. The second flick will pick back up on them as adults, who must once again band together to take It down.

There's no official release date yet, though "It" is expected in theaters sometime in 2017.

[via: The Hollywood Reporter]

Photo credit: Getty Images