Who knew that a scary clown would become such a box office bonanza – well, Warner Bros and New Line Cinema were certainly hopeful that IT would become a hit but perhaps not in the way that has thus far.
Met with critical and audience acclaim, IT, based on the novel by Stephen King, has stunned everyone and become a box office phenomenon. In its opening weekend, the film took over $123million, the highest-opening weekend ever for the month of September and is already the 6th highest-grossing R-rated film in the US with its total now standing around $266million, sitting behind The Hangover, The Matrix Reloaded, American Sniper, Deadpool and The Passion of the Christ. In fact, it may well rise to 4th by the end next weekend.
Globally, the film now stands at $478.1million and is growing every day.
It’s no surprise then that the studios behind the film have now officially greenlit the follow-up for the film and announced a September 2019 release for Chapter Two with The Hollywood Reporter breaking the news of the release date. Director Andres Muscetti is set to continue in the director’s chair as he adapts the second half of the hit novel, which sees the Derry “Losers Club” return to their small town, now as adults.
Bill Skarsgard (Pennywise) is also set to return for the film and fans have begun “casting” the film for the adult parts, with the child actors (including Finn Wolfhard and Jaeden Liberherr) having their say on who they would like to play them in the sequel, with names such as Christian Bale, Chris Pratt, Chadwick Boseman, Bill Hader and Jessica Chastain mentioned, with the latter the most likely given her working relationship with Muscetti on 2013’s Mama. We could find out the new cast any day now.
IT is in cinemas nationwide now.
