We were joined on the Popternative show by Amanda Christine who stars as Ronnie in the prequel horror series, IT: Welcome to Derry, set in the world of Stephen King’s IT universe. The series, which premiered on October 26 on HBO Max, is set in 1962 and expands stories established by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs in the feature films It and It Chapter Two.
Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as the terrifying Pennywise from IT and IT Chapter Two, and the series also stars Taylour Paige (Zola), Jovan Adepo (Fences), Chris Chalk (Perry Mason), James Remar (Dexter), Clara Stack (The Naughty Nine), Stephen Rider (Daredevil), Madeleine Stow (Revenge), Blake Cameron James (We Grown Now), Rudy Mancuso (Música), Miles Ekhardt (Turtles All the Way Down), Arian S. Cartaya (Juego de mentiras), Mikkal Karim-Fidler (Boy in the Walls), Matilda Lawler (Station Eleven), Joshua Odjick (The Long Walk), Kimberly Guerrero (Reservation Dogs), Maya McNair (Clarice), Maya Misaljevic (Seven Veils), Hannah Storey (Thanksgiving), Jack Molloy Legault (Home Sweet Home Alone), and Matilda Legault (Beacon 23).
On how she prepared to play Ronnie, Amanda says, “I [have to] thank Andy and Barbara [Muschietti] so much because they sat me down with my mom and we had a conversation about the show and going into depth about Pennywise, where he originated from, and how Ronnie elevates the storyline. So, it was really fun to dive deep into it with them. I also had an acting coach, Ben, and it was amazing because we would either listen to music, which was sometimes music I really connected to, or sometimes we just [got] deep into the vulnerable stuff that I have been through as well. Connecting my life experiences to Ronnie [helped] because I also only have one parent like Ronnie, so [I was] trying to bring myself within Ronnie.”
Amanda also talks about the theme song heard during the opening credits which is the 1956 song, “A Smile and a Ribbon” by Patience & Prudence. The catchy tune is juxtaposed with ominous visual and has gone viral online.
“We got the episodes ahead of time; we got five to watch to prepare ourselves for interviews and see how we did. And when that theme song came on and just seeing it and all the animation within it, it was just so beautiful. Me and my mom loved it. And then it came out, and now I hear it everywhere and it’s stuck in my head. I love the song and I’m so glad they made it catchy. Now that I watch the episodes every week, I’m with the fans, when’s the next episode coming out? I’m wanting to hear that theme song too.”
Watch the full conversation with Amanda Christine below.
A new episode of IT: Welcome to Derry airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max through December 14.
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