Pennywise is back to scare a new generation in the latest take on the bestselling novel, arriving in a year filled with King adaptations

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Stephen King’s evil clown Pennywise returns in the full trailer for this year’s big screen adaptation of It.

The bestselling novel was previously turned into a small screen mini-series in 1990, but the latest version will be spread over two theatrical releases, the first of which lands in September.

Misery loves company: why Stephen King remains Hollywood's favorite author Read more

Director Andrés Muschietti, known for Jessica Chastain horror Mama, has taken over from Beasts of No Nation’s Cary Fukunaga, who was originally attached before dropping out. Fukunaga retains a writing credit.

“It is a horror movie, but it’s not only that,” Muschietti told a Comic-Con audience last weekend. “It’s a story of love and friendship and a lot of other beautiful emotions.”



The cast includes Stranger Things actor Finn Wolfhard and Midnight Special’s Jaeden Lieberher, while the child-devouring clown will be played by Bill Skarsgård, known for roles in Hemlock Grove and Anna Karenina.

“The story is the same, but there are changes in the things the kids are scared of,” Muschietti told Variety. “In the book, they’re children in the 50s, so the incarnations of the monsters are mainly from movies, so it’s Wolf Man, the Mummy, Frankenstein [and] Dracula. I had a different approach. I wanted to bring out deeper fears, based not only on movie monsters but on childhood traumas.”

The film arrives during a boom time for Stephen King adaptations, following on from the small screen reimagining of The Mist, Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey in The Dark Tower and a series based on Mr Mercedes. Hulu has also announced Castle Rock, an anthology horror show based on a number of King’s short stories.

It will be released in cinemas on 8 September.