Muschietti discusses It deleted scenes, 1600s origin and turtle cameo

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

IT and IT: CHAPTER TWO director Andy Muschietti has said that he is in talks with New Line Cinema to put together a six and a half hour supercut of the two movies that would reinstate all of the deleted scenes, plus add in two more scenes that Muschietti hasn't had the chance to shoot yet. It will be a shame if this supercut doesn't end up happening, because a lot of hype has already been built up for it.

Speaking with Consequence of Sound, Muschietti again talked about the supercut and reiterated that there's more material he wants to shoot.

…it’s under discussion. We’re just toiling with the idea with the studio, but we’re not there yet. But it would be great. Imagine having, in front of you, the two movies, seeing them as a whole, which is something that I never did — yet — and, you know, recalibrating things and saying, “Okay, you know what would be great? Seeing Richie flying in the Macroverse. Or whatever."

Among the deleted scenes that Muschietti could drop into the supercut is one that Bill Skarsgard, the actor who plays the evil clown Pennywise, described as "really disturbing" back in 2017. Filmed for the first IT, this scene was a flashback to the 1600s and provided "sort of a backstory for what It is, or where Pennywise came from." Muschietti said: 

I decided not to put it in the film because it was a little confusing. You know, the problem is that people sometimes want to know a little more, but if you give them too much, then they’re disappointed. It’s like a magic trick in a way. I think if you go back to the book, something similar happens, you know. Stephen King remains very cryptic about the other side, the origin of Pennywise, and he teases you with (Pennywise referring to himself as) Robert Gray, and this, and that, and the turtle. And at the end, he opens the curtains, and shows you a lot about the other side, you know, the Macroverse? But I learned from that, that sometimes it’s better to keep things cryptic and generate mystery. It’s a balance… So yeah, that’s a scene that I love, but I will have to see how it can be re-orchestrated into the big cut if it happens."

Then again, maybe Muschietti could dig into Pennywise's 1600s history in a third IT film. The director says it's "too early to tell" if a third film will be made, but 

the universe and the cosmology of this story is so rich. Stephen King makes use of that mythology as a catalyst for the story of the Losers and Pennywise, and it really has outstanding events in the past that are so awesome. Like the story of Bob Gray. That’s a huge mystery there. Bob Gray, who was the clown, Bob Gray, who became Pennywise. Why? Why did It take this incarnation? How did it happen? There are a lot of questions there. It’s very intriguing to me."

Another deleted scene that could work its way into the supercut is one that served as both a nod back to the moment when the Losers are swimming with a turtle in the first film and to the fact that King's novel featured a massive, god-like turtle called Maturin. This scene took place 

When you see (James McAvoy's Bill Denborough) confronting his fear in the flooded basement … He’s lost, there is no way out, and suddenly, the eyes of Pennywise — Pennywise Bill, the kid — come out of the dark. But it’s not Pennywise, it’s the turtle that is swimming by him. And he views the turtle and he’s sort of fascinated, like, ‘What is this thing?’, and very soon after, the kids are swimming after it. So, McAvoy follows them toward the light, and he emerges back in the cavern."

Muschietti says he cut the scene for pacing reasons, and also because he was concerned that it could turn IT: CHAPTER TWO into too much of a fantasy movie.

We'll keep you updated on the chances of the IT supercut happening as Muschietti continues to work it out with New Line Cinema.