April 6, 2009
Source: Dread Central
by Alex Billington
Stephen King's It - Pennywise
A few weeks ago we reported that Warner Brothers was going to remake Stephen King's It, or better put, re-adapt it for the big screen. The news garnered quite a response in the comments, most of which supported the idea, some of which didn't. Although the original 1990 version of It was creepy as hell, it was still a made-for-TV film, and therefore edited for content. But if one thing is for certain, this time around, It will be as R-rated as "it" can get (pun intended). The horror site Dread Central got a note from screenwriter David Kajganich, briefly explaining his plans to adapt the 1104-page novel into one feature film.
"The remake will be set in the mid-1980s and in the present almost equally — mirroring the twenty-odd-year gap King uses in the book — and with a *great* deal of care and attention paid to the backstories of all the characters," Kajganich told Dread Central. "I think the real twist here is that my pitch to WB — which they've assured me they're on board for — is that this will not be PG-13. This will be R. Which means we can really honor the book and engage with the traumas (both the paranormal ones and those they deal with at home and school) that these character endure."
Kajganich goes on to say that he plans "to be very protective of the book" and that, despite the novel's immense length, Warner Brothers still wants to make this as a single film. "You have my promise, though, that I will do this with the utmost humility and respect for King's work. He's the King, after all, and I intend to continue to pledge to him my allegiance." Sounds like they really couldn't have hired a better writer for this. Although I'm not too familiar with his past work, I'm confident that Kajganich will do a good job. Now they just need to find the right director. Might I suggest Trick 'r Treat's Mike Dougherty?
