It Chapter 2: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and Bill Hader in first image of new cast

Taking place 27 years after the first film

(Warner Bros)

Stephen King fans have been waiting patiently to see what the cast of It: Chapter Two will look like, the movie adapting the second half of the acclaimed novel which takes place 27 years after the first.

Over the past few months, various reports have indicated who will be joining the cast, including Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, and Bill Hader.

To mark the start of production, Warner Bros. has released a first-look at the new Loser’s Club, the cast striking a pose reminiscent of Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous 'The Last Supper'.

So, who’s who? Starting from the left, we have Chastain, who will play the Club’s lone female member. The actor previously worked with director Andy Muschietti on the 2013 movie Mama, while the character Beverly was previously played by Sophia Lillis.

Next comes James McAvoy, set to play Bill Denbrough, the unofficial leader of the group who becomes a successful writer and was first played by Jaeden Lieberher. Isaiah Mustafa as Mike Hanlon, who remains in Derry to keep watch over the town and was previously portrayed by Chosen Jacobs.

Jay Ryan, who plays former new kid Ben (previously played by Jeremy Ray Taylor), sits central. James Ransone, playing the hypocondriac Eddie Kaspbrak (previously Jack Dylan Grazer), comes next followed by Hader - who takes on Finn Wolfhard’s former role, the comic relief Richie Tozier.

Last but not least, we have Andy Bean as Stanley Uris (Wyatt Oleff), the Jewish germaphobe who reluctantly joins the gang as they once again hunt Pennywise.

Speaking of the shape-shifting embodiment of evil, actor Bill Skarsgård remains absent from the photo, no doubt plotting revenge against the Loser’s Club somewhere.

It: Chapter Two will also bring back the original child actors, who will play their respected characters during flashbacks. Xavier Dolan and Jess Weixler have also joined the cast.

Muschietti returns to direct the sequel, which reaches cinemas 6 September 2019.