Search icon

Movies & TV

27th Jun 2019

Stephen King and the screenwriter of It Chapter Two are extremely happy with the terrifying sequel

Paul Moore

It Chapter Two

Prepare to be terrified: Pennywise is back.

The cliché goes that the most important thing in any film is the script and when it comes to a beloved property like It, there are two men that really have to shoulder that responsibility: Stephen King (author of the novel) and Gary Dauberman (screenwriter of the film).

After Chapter One dominated the box office and became a critical darling, the pressure is on to up the scares as The Losers Club reunite in Derry, Maine. This time around, they’re all grown up but the terrifying spectre of Pennywise looms large.

Throughout his illustrious career, Stephen King has never been shy about expressing his opinion about adaptations of his work. Of course, he famously hated Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of The Shining, but when it comes to Andy Muschietti’s version of It, King couldn’t be happier.

In fact, the beloved author has even seen the completed film and he thinks it’s terrific.

Clip via Warner Bros. Pictures

Gary Dauberman, meanwhile, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter recently and he’s delighted with how his script has been translated to the big screen.

“I’m very, very happy and I’m very, very proud. I don’t know if you can hear the joy in my voice as I try not to answer this question, but I’m very excited for everyone to see it. As a very, very anxious person, I have no anxiety about that movie whatsoever,” he said.

When asked what King’s approval meant to him, Dauberman said that it’s the best praise imaginable.

“I can’t explain to you the relief I feel when he signs off on something or likes the work you’ve done,” he added.

“That’s the first person I’m trying to please when I’m adapting these things. It is an enormous amount of relief. I know I’m never going to be able to please everybody, so I just hope that he’s pleased. It really is a huge relief, and everything else for me is a bonus.”

It Chapter Two is released on Irish cinemas on 6 September.

LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge