AsStephen Kingfans gear up for the release ofIt: Welcome to Derry, theHBOprequel toItthat’llarrive in October, many wonder whether the TV version will be able to capture the horror of the 2017 adaptation and its 2019 sequel. Though it’s a change of medium, we’re talking about HBO, a network that isn’t exactly known for diluting stuff that might be deemed controversial. Show creator Barbara Muschietti understands this concern, and she’s offered fans the reassurance they’ve been hoping for, vowing thatIt: Welcome to Derrywill be as scary as the movies.
Per Screen Rant, the showrunner and producer appeared at the San Diego Comic-Con to talk about the upcoming show, where she was joined by her brother, co-producer andItdirector, Andy Muschietti, and they shared a few details about the series. At the event, the siblings revealed thatIt: Welcome to Derrywill explore the origins of Pennywise the Clown, the main villain of the franchise. Barbara also emphasized that fans needn’t be worried —the series will be as scaryas they expect:
“We still have the same level of intensity and scariness, and we have to give credit to the studio that supported us because, honestly, I did not believe we were going to be able to shoot stuff like that. And, it’s there on the screen, you know? And there’s a lot more of that.”
I’m Sorry, but This Is the Last Stephen King Adaptation We Need Right Now
The recent announcement of Doug Liman’s feature adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’ is the last thing we needed.
It: Welcome to Derrywas created by Andy and Barbara Muschietti alongside their producing partner in theItfranchise, Jason Fuchs. Bill Skarsgård will return to play Pennywise, co-starring with Jovan Adepo, Taylour Paige, Tyner Rushing, Chris Chalk, Stephen Rider, Kimberly Norris Guerrero, Madeleine Stowe, and James Remar, among others.
‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Faces a Tough Challenge
King isn’t known for writing many sequels to his own novels, and save for a few exceptions, he doesn’t always revisit his characters. Sure, it could be argued that almost all Stephen King’s books take place in a shared universe, but technically, he’s written relatively few direct sequels. Works like the Bill Hodges Trilogy,The TalismanandBlack House,The ShiningandDoctor Sleepare exceptions, along withThe Dark Toweruniverse, which was expanded with numerous sequels. On the other hand,when it comes to prequels, some of his books and stories likeThe Wind Through the KeyholeandJerusalem’s Lotrewind the narrative clock.
His film and TV adaptations have also expanded into prequels and sequels with varied results.Doctor Sleepis the one that stands out the most, but others, like the countlessChildren of the Cornsequels,Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, andSalem’s Lot: A Return to Salem’s Lot, aren’t exactly celebrated adaptations.
For all these reasons,It: Welcome to Derryfaces a challenge. Even though King’s 1986 novel has plenty of origin story potential , nothing in the HBO series will be based on a book that Kingactuallywrote. This is the work of fans at HBO who’ve gotten their shot at making something entirely new. Their inspiration is extremely important, obviously, but this doesn’t mean that the series won’t stumble in response to the challenge that previous less-acclaimed adaptations have faced.
Source:Screen Rant
It: Welcome to Derry
