It: Chapter 2's Teach Grant explains sequel's human horror Henry Bowers, says a 'bully isn't born, he is created'
In the upcoming second half of the rebooted 'It' franchise, titled 'It: Chapter 2', Stephen King's story is set to encompass elements of horror beyond just the signature, terrifyingly creepy clown Pennywise. And one of those prime elements of horror will be played by Teach Grant, as the big bully Henry Bowers, whom some might remember as the town bully, picking on our dear members from the Losers Club.
The upcoming sequel is set to follow the Loser's Club 27 years after the events of the first reboot. Almost all of them are established in their own lives away from Derry, except Mike - who stays back in town and grows up to be the librarian. Twenty-seven years later, when the town of Derry is afflicted by the horrors of the sewer-clown Pennywise once again, Mike rounds up his friends to fight against him, but only this time he is joined by none other than the same boy who terrorized the Losers Club before they knew of Pennywise's existence.
But while Henry is about to unleash fresh horrors on the gang, Grant, who plays the grown-up version of the character says his monstrosity has a lot to do with him being a victim of constant abuse. "Imagining what the gap in between (the two films) would have been like and getting into Henry Bowers in chapter 1 (reveals) a bully isn't born. He is created and Stephen King does a really good job dramatizing," Grant says in an exclusive interview with MEA Worldwide.
"We see the cycle of abuse from his father which basically pushes Henry to become who he is. So in a way, Henry himself is kind of just a victim acting out. When you say words like psychotic or a maniac, I think there's a little bit more to it. I think there's a bit of a victim complex and he is sort of acting out."
While the whole troubled childhood thing doesn't really excuse the bullying, Grant would like viewers to know that as an actor, he had to look at Henry with empathy and understanding in his approach to the character. "I don't think that you can have a one-note villain if you will. And if you can call him a villain in the ensemble, I think it's important that the audience can open up to him a little bit and then you can get to them in a different way."
'It: Chapter 2' premiers worldwide next Friday, September 6.