New Line Gives The Go-Ahead For It Sequel; Andy Muschietti Expected To Direct

We haven’t seen the last of Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

On the eve of release, and bringing an end to months of speculation, New Line has officially issued the green light for an It sequel. Word comes to us by way of The Hollywood Reporter, revealing that negotiations with director Andy Muschietti are now underway. No deal is in place just yet, but should Muschietti sign along the dotted line, he’ll be joined by returning producers Barbara Muschietti, Roy Lee, Dan Lin, Seth Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg.

As THR points out, a sequel (or Chapter Two, if we’re using the tentative title) was almost never in doubt; New Line was simply waiting to begin talks with many of the film’s creative talent. Speaking of which, it’s unclear as yet whether It Part 2 will herald the return of Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things), Sophia Lillis and their Losers Club friends – remember, the second confrontation with Pennywise takes place 27 years after the fact.

Assuming Muschietti and Co. incorporate flashbacks into the story, there’s a very good chance New Line’s It sequel will feature both the original Losers Club and their adult counterparts, as the fight against Pennywise begins to reach its bloody conclusion. Chalk that up as conjecture for now, though, as there’s currently no script in place for the sequel.

And really, that’s ok. With It fast approaching, moviegoers are bracing themselves for what is seemingly one of the best horror movies of 2017. Our own resident horror expert Matt Donato said as much in his review, too, writing that It is “a wholesome adaption that never sacrifices story for cheap scares, which makes for a brilliantly chilling tale rooted in heart and fluent in screams.”

It Part 1 – The Losers Club opens tomorrow, September 8th. Box office analysts claim New Line’s R-rated horror reboot is poised for a huge opening at the domestic box office, with estimates stretching between $50m and $60 million. Those projections could rise higher still, particularly when you factor word of mouth into the equation. Regardless of the total sum, expect Pennywise to loom over those BO standings for quite some time.