When the kids of Netflix super-hit Stranger Things were doing press for the show, one of the questions that kept coming up was in relation to its connections to the upcoming IT remake.
Finn Wolfhard, who stars as Mike in Stranger Things, also has a lead role in Andrés Muschietti’s upcoming take on the Stephen King classic, which features Bill Skarsgard as the infamous clown.
Show creators The Duffer Brothers had even previously toyed with the idea of doing an adaptation themselves, though they admitted how intimidating a prospect it would be.
It now seems there may be even more of a connection between the two, however. Speaking with Collider, producer Dan Lin offered the following comparison:
I think a great analogy is actually Stranger Things… It’s very much an homage to ’80s movies, whether it’s classic Stephen King or even Spielberg. Think about Stand by Me as far as the bonding amongst the kids. But there is a really scary element in Pennywise
Regarding getting the chemistry right between the kids – something that needs to happen with IT, or else Pennywise’s nefarious deeds won’t hit as hard – Lin was suitably optimistic:
we’ve been shooting mostly the kids’ work and now Pennywise is starting. We clearly had a great dynamic amongst the kids. Really great chemistry is always a challenging thing with a movie like It because you’re casting kids who don’t have a ton of experience, but it ended up being really natural. Each kid, like a Goonies or Stand By Me, has a very specific personality and they’re forming the losers club obviously. And now finally the evil force is coming into our movie. We’ve spent a few months getting the kids to bond and now they’re going to fight this evil, scary clown.
The project is currently shooting in Canada, and is due to wrap around September 6th. Skarsgard and Wolfhard will star alongside Jaeden Lieberher, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Sophia Lillis, and Jeremy Ray Taylor.
Details are sparse at the moment, but we do know the producers are targeting an R rating. The creative team says that their intent is to stay as close to the source material as possible.
We previously reported that the California Tax Credit would be utilized by the production. So, while there are plans to shoot in Canada, it is expected that at least part of the feature will lens in CA.
Original director Cary Fukunaga departed the remake over budgetary disagreements with the studio. Muschietti (Mama) is now helming the forthcoming adaptation of the Stephen King tome, which is expected to be split into two parts. Gary Doberman wrote the most recent draft of the script with Muschietti.
The film is currently targeting a September 8, 2017 release date.
The 1991 television miniseries and the forthcoming remake are both based on the Stephen King tome of the same name. No additional details on the upcoming project are available at this time but stay tuned to the site in the coming months and we will keep you apprised as more news is announced.
