People with clown phobias will never forget Stephen King’s It, a scary novel about a clown with a penchant for murder. In the 90s the book was adapted into a two part miniseries and it went on to become the root of most clown phobias of today. Well now a new generation has a chance to be terrified as the book is remade into a two part film series.
News that an adaptation was in the works came out all the way back in 2009 and in 2012 it was announced that it would be adapted into a two part film series directed by Cary Fukunaga. Now it is 2016 and Fukunaga has since dropped out of the director’s seat and Mama director Andy Muschietti is now in charge. Will Poulter, star from Chronicles of Narnia Voyage of the Dawn Treader and We’re the Millers is rumored to be starring in the role as the infamous and terrifying Pennywise.
Like the prior 90s adaptation and the novel, the 2016 series will be split with the first half following the lives of the children and the second their lives as adults. The fact that the series will be split has fans frowning, ever since Harry Potter Hollywood has had an irritating trend of propagating the lives of their franchises by splitting books too short to be split. The Hobbit and Mockingjay, I’m looking at you. The producer Roy Lee has confirmed that the remake will in fact be rated R, which gives the staff the freedom to show no quarter to an audience that will be potentially shaking in their seats during the opening scene. Even the 90s edition which successfully went on to traumatize an entire generation had to work within the rules of television. That only means that if you could not handle that…well, good luck to you if you choose to watch the It of 2016.
The film itself has been confirmed to be similar to the original adaptation.
“It is very close to the source material in one way but very different if you look at it as a literary piece of work… We’re taking it and making the movie from the point of view of the kids, and then making another movie from the point of view of the adults, that could potentially then be cut together like the novel. But it’s gonna be a really fun way of making this movie.”
For those who have seen It’s 1990s predecessor, (or read about it because you too afraid to see it.) It does not appear like they are attacking the project in a particularly original way. Of course a new cast of faces and a different Pennywise will no doubt bring a sense of novelty to the film that will hopefully keep engaged those brave or crazy enough to watch It.
Of course the film is still in its early stages of production, we don’t even have many clues on a cast beyond Will Poulter. If you are a fan, prepare to wait a while.
Just a friendly reminder, this film has an R rating, watch it at your own peril.
