IT: Chapter 2 will be quite darker than Stephen King’s book

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

With the new take on STEPHEN KING'S IT dominating the box office this past weekend with the biggest horror movie opening weekend of all time, everyone in Hollywood seems to be turning their attention towards the second film in the series.

Today we have news that not only will screenwriter Gary Dauberman be back to pen the next film, but director Andy Muschietti and his sister/producing partner Barbara let loose on some of the aspects we can expect to see from IT: CHAPTER 2.

First, of the Muschietti siblings want to stress that the kids will be more than just brief throwbacks:

Andy Muschietti on IT: CHAPTER 2:

On the second movie, that dialogue between timelines will be more present. If we’re telling the story of adults, we are going to have flashbacks that take us back to the ‘80s and inform the story in the present day.

Barabara adds:

The hope is we’ll find the best way soon because it’s also important for Andy to get flashbacks with the kids, who are growing very fast. They are an important component in the next film.

Andy continues:

They’re a very big part of the action.

Good to know! I can't imagine after the child actors who formed The Loser's Club being one of the very best elements of IT the new film would all but abandon them. This is very good news.

Moving on it seems Andy Muschietti has a future in store for Mike Hanlon "quite darker than the book":

My idea of Mike in the second movie is quite darker from the book. I want to make his character the one pivotal character who brings them all together, but staying in Derry took a toll with him. I want him to be a junkie actually. A librarian junkie. When the second movie starts, he’s a wreck.

He’s not just the collector of knowledge of what Pennywise has been doing in Derry. He will bear the role of trying to figure out how to defeat him. The only way he can do that is to take drugs and alter his mind.

Mike Hanlon is now a junkie? Interesting approach. I'm for it especially with the nod to the smoke hole, and especially after MuschiettI dropped this bit of info: Mike figures out The Ritual of Chud!

Andy Muschietti on The Ritual of Chud:

It resonates with what the kids do when they go to the smokehouse in the Barrens. By inhaling these fumes from the fire they have visions of It, and the origin of It, and the falling fire in the sky that crashed into Derry millions of years ago. We’ve brought that to Mike, by the end of those 30 years Mike has figured out the Ritual of Chüd.

You can read more of Muschietti's talk on IT: CHAPTER 2, including his thoughts on the future of Stan Uiris aka Wyatt Oleff, right HERE. Worth a read. I suggest checking it out. Then make sure to hit us up and let us know what you thought of IT in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!

STEPHEN KING'S IT: CHAPTER ONE is currently playing in theaters nationwide.

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