Even though the sequel to director Andy Muschietti's IT isn't scheduled to float into theaters until September of next year, that hasn't stopped fans from theorizing about how the highly-anticipated follow-up will bring one of Stephen King's most iconic horror stories to a satisfyingly bloody end. When IT: CHAPTER TWO lands in theaters, the final installment will find the adult members of the Losers' Club making good on their pact to return to Derry, Maine, after banishing Pennywise to the depths below for a 27-year-long slumber. As adults, the group will gather, once again, with the hope of destroying the demonic nightmare clown for all eternity.
Recently, IT: CHAPTER TWO screenwriter Gary Dauberman spoke with the fine folks over at SlashFilm about the challenge of writing the characters after a 27-year-long absence from the terrifying ordeal: "Like I said with the first one, it’s really this embarrassment of riches. It was trying to do your best job of taking what Stephen King wrote so beautifully all those years ago and try to translate it to the script page," said Dauberman. "For me it was just really fun to be able to revisit these characters and see what they’re up to 27 years later. There was a challenge trying to get all those character introductions and “here’s where we are so far” which is fun to tackle. How can we find an elegant solution to introduce this many characters again to the audience?"
As their talk continued, Dauberman elaborated on how the Losers' Club members will be approaching their return to Derry, after making a hurried escape from the cursed town so many years ago: "In the first one, they’re all together in school so you see them in a bunch, but 27 years later, I don’t think it’s a spoiler they’re sort of scattered all over the country," Dauberman confessed. "So we see pieces of who they’ve become which I think is really exciting. Then of course it was great to see them return to Derry."
At another point in their conversation, Dauberman admitted to SlashFilm that there were times when writing the script felt bittersweet, as he knew that the story would not end well for some.
"The ending I think will satisfy the audience and maybe break their hearts a little bit," Dauberman noted, though we'll have to wait until the film's release to find out why the finale has left him feeling so conflicted.
When IT: CHAPTER TWO arrives, the film will once again star Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Meanwhile, playing the adult Losers' Club members are James McAvoy (SPLIT, GLASS) as Bill, Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain (PAINKILLER JANE, SEDUCING INGRID BERGMAN) as Beverly, Bill Hader (INSIDE OUT, PAUL) as Richie, Isaiah Mustafa (HORRIBLE BOSSES, NIKITA) as Mike, Jay Ryan (BAUTY & THE BEAST, SEA PATROL) as Ben, James Ransone (GENERATION KILL, SINISTER) as Eddie, and Andy Bean (HERE AND NOW, POOR BOY) as Stanley.
Reprising their roles as the original members of the Losers' Club are Jaeden Lieberher as Bill, Wyatt Oleff as Stanley, Sophia Lillis as Beverly, Finn Wolfhard as Richie, Jeremy Ray Taylor as Ben, Chosen Jacobs as Mike, and Jack Dylan Grazer as Eddie.
IT: CHAPTER TWO will float into theaters on September 6, 2019.