Transitioning from a quiet social drama to a multimillion-dollar studio horror production tests any actor's technical range. In It: Welcome to Derry, the prequel expanding Andy Muschietti’s cinematic adaptations of Stephen King’s work, James portrays Will Hanlon. Within the King mythos, the Hanlon family carries Derry's complex racial history and generational trauma, making Will an essential link in the town’s grim timeline.
The practical realities of the shoot required immediate adaptation. Filming horror demands high-stress physical acting, often in rough outdoor conditions opposite special effects crews. Reflecting on complex exterior shoots, James highlighted the balance between real environments and visual imagination, noting: "were just running around doing whatever in the graveyard for real... Of course, the ground wasn't cracking in front of us, so..." Maintaining high stakes against non-existent threats proved his comfort with technical scale.
