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Is the IT: Welcome To Derry Trailer a Sign of Trouble for Pennywise’s Return?

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Countdown begins for Stephen King’s latest novel “Never Flinch”! In a matter of days, starting May 27, you can grab your copies from both online stores and retail outlets worldwide. I discussed this book as the headline in the previous issue of The King Beat, and it will certainly be prominently featured next week. However, today’s spotlight is on adaptations, including my thoughts on the recent “IT: Welcome To Derry” trailer that was released a couple days ago.

This week’s headlines include our first glimpse at the upcoming Stephen King TV series, which brings some optimism regarding a long-gestating King movie that has been inactive for several years, as well as information about an exciting summer screening of “Children Of The Corn.

The IT: Welcome To Derry Trailer Is Not What I Expected, And I’m A Touch Nervous About The HBO Show Now

I’d say my stance on “IT: Chapter Two” could be described as mildly defending it, given my perspective. The adult storyline and the climactic battle in Stephen King’s 1986 horror masterpiece are often criticized for not being as powerful as other parts of the book. This criticism might have put the 2019 sequel at a disadvantage from the start. Nevertheless, I found much to appreciate about how the movie handles the source material. However, there’s one aspect of the adaptation that I find less appealing: the excessive use of flashbacks showing the Losers Club as kids. The main focus should be on the reunion of Bill, Ben, Beverly, Richie, Eddie, and Mike (rest in peace Stan Uris), but the film is bogged down by too many 1989 flashback sequences. It seems that the filmmakers were reluctant to let go of the adolescent dynamics that made “IT: Chapter One” such a massive success.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, watching the freshly unveiled trailer for IT: Welcome To Derry this week, I can’t help but feel a sense of unease about the potential pitfalls of the upcoming prequel series. You might want to take a look at it above if you haven’t already.

Over the past few months, what has truly piqued my interest for the HBO series is its unique take on the original material. Initially, it was announced that the show would delve into a specific portion of Stephen King’s “IT” – the chilling events at The Black Spot club – and I was elated about this direction since this part of the novel has never been explored in an adaptation before (neither in the 2017/2019 films nor the 1990 miniseries). However, upon watching the trailer, it appears that the storyline from “IT: Chapter One” is being revisited, but this time set in the early 1960s instead of the late 1980s.

It’s plausible that the preview serves more as a prelude to the overall tone rather than a full representation of the story in IT: Welcome To Derry, with the main plot revolving around The Black Spot and the key characters. However, for me, the teaser trailers have raised some concerns instead of building anticipation for the show (which should have been an easy win). I’ll be closely monitoring its progress as we approach its premiere on HBO and HBO Max this fall.

Lynne Ramsay Just Premiered Her First Feature Film In Eight Years, And I’m Keeping Fingers Crossed A Stephen King Movie Is Still On Her Docket

Each artist has their unique pace when it comes to creativity. Remarkably, Stephen King consistently manages to release at least one new book annually – whether it’s a novel, a collection of short stories, or non-fiction work. On the other hand, filmmakers such as Steven Soderbergh have astonishing productivity levels, with two films hitting theaters in the first three months of 2025 alone. Yet, not every artist works at this speed – some require more time for creative, personal, or professional reasons, and Lynne Ramsay serves as a prime example of this slower pace.

Since 1999, Ramsay has produced and released four films (including “Ratcatcher,” “Morvern Callar,” “We Need To Talk About Kevin,” and “You Were Never Really Here”), but it’s been eight years since her last release. Fortunately, the long wait is almost over as her latest film, “Die, My Love” starring Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and will be in theaters this June. With Ramsay back in action, I’m eagerly anticipating her return to her plans to adapt one of Stephen King’s lesser-known novels: “The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon“.

For over five years now, I’ve been nurturing a dream that found roots in November 2020 when Ramsay got involved to direct the project. Christy Hall, known for co-creating the underrated Netflix series “I Am Not Okay With This,” was the one who wrote the script. Given its compact length, Stephen King’s novel “The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon” lends itself well to a film adaptation, offering an enthralling tale of survival in the woods with a captivating protagonist. Although there are hurdles preventing the movie from materializing, I remain optimistic and keep my hopes high.

If you haven’t read it yet, the book titled “The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon” was initially published in 1999. The main character is Trisha McFarland, a nine-year-old girl who embarks on a family day hike through the woods. Arguments among her family members cause her to lag behind intentionally, and when she decides to take a break, she loses sight of them. Her attempts to find her brother and mother only lead her further astray, eventually finding herself venturing deeper into the wilderness with minimal resources.

Her ingenuity keeps her alive, even as search parties scour the area for her, aided by an imagined guardian angel in the form of former Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Tom Gordon. However, time is running out, and the dense forest teems with perilous threats.

In an interview at Cannes (as reported by the Los Angeles Times), filmmaker Lynne Ramsay expressed her intention to avoid another eight-year gap between movies and has several upcoming projects lined up, such as the horror film Polaris, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara. Crossing my fingers that a shorter production time could potentially speed up the development of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon… However, I must mention a major hurdle that could impede the project’s progress.

In 2020, Village Roadshow Pictures acquired the rights to the Stephen King novel we’re discussing. Unfortunately, this company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March of this year, which isn’t a great sign for the future of the “Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon” movie. However, I choose to remain optimistic. Despite rumors, no definite announcements have been made about the project’s cancellation. With Lynne Ramsay’s exceptional skills and the strong source material, I’m hoping that it finds a new production home and eventually gets made. There’s just too much potential in this story for it to be wasted.

Currently, it’s not entirely certain where we stand with the adaptations; however, rest assured that any new information will be promptly shared with you right here on TopMob.

This Summer, Stephen King Fans Can Watch Children Of The Corn At A Special Screening Where The Movie Was Filmed

In my articles about Stephen King on TopMob, I’ve never held back in expressing my strong dislike for Fritz Kiersch’s “Children Of The Corn.” Even when considering the subsequent IP-based sequels, the 1984 film fails to contribute positively to the source material, is excruciatingly dull, and has unfortunately earned a reputation as one of the first poor adaptations of King’s work. I wouldn’t voluntarily rewatch it unless there was a compelling reason… but if pressed, I might suggest “viewing it where it was originally filmed” as that tiny exception.

In my previous post on The King Beat, I mentioned On Set Cinema, a program that will be screening Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” at Timberline Lodge (the location used for exterior shots of The Overlook Hotel) in October as part of its 45th anniversary. However, if you’re eager to celebrate the world of Stephen King earlier, mark your calendars for July, as a two-day event is being organized in Whiting & Hornick, Iowa to honor the history of “Children Of The Corn”.

People brave enough to encounter the enigmatic figure known as He Who Walks Behind The Rows might want to save the date: July 11. Tickets remain for an evening guided tour around Whiting, Iowa, which served as the stand-in for Gatlin, Iowa in the movie. Following this, a screening of the film will be held at the local community center. Additionally, there’s a bus tour scheduled for July 12, but unfortunately, all tickets have already been sold out.

For those residing in Iowa, or planning to be there at the specified time, or passionate fans of ‘Children Of The Corn’ who wouldn’t want to miss such an event, tickets are currently on sale! The cost is $30 for standard admission and a discounted $25 for residents of Iowa. Excluding travel expenses, it’s less than buying the movie on 4K UHD and offers a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience. If you’re interested in attending, securing your tickets promptly might be advisable as they could sell out quickly.

This week’s The King Beat has come to an end, but don’t worry! A new feature filled with updates and insights about Stephen King’s work is coming your way here on TopMob next Thursday. Until then, why not delve into the history of King adaptations by checking out my series Adapting Stephen King?

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2025-05-22 19:08

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