It (2017 film)

Production and Development

Development for a new adaptation of Stephen King's novel began at Warner Bros. in March 2009, with David Kajganich initially attached to direct. The project underwent significant changes in leadership, with Cary Joji Fukunaga taking over as director in June 2012 before departing in May 2015. Andy Muschietti was hired as the new director in June 2015, bringing his own distinct vision to the project. The film's production was moved to the New Line Cinema division in May 2014, which is known for its horror franchises. Muschietti drew inspiration from several 1980s films, including The Howling (1981), The Thing (1982), The Goonies (1985), Stand by Me (1986), and Near Dark (1987). He also cited the influence of director Steven Spielberg on the film's tone, particularly in balancing childhood adventure with horror.

The screenplay was written by Chase Palmer, Cary Joji Fukunaga, and Gary Dauberman, with Fukunaga's initial drafts forming a foundational element of the final script. Principal photography commenced on June 27, 2016, and concluded on September 21, 2016. The entire shoot took place in the province of Ontario, Canada. Locations across the Greater Toronto Area were used to create the fictional town of Derry, Maine. Specific filming sites included the town of Port Hope, which provided the neighbourhood streets, as well as Oshawa and the Riverdale neighbourhood in Toronto itself. This Canadian production base contributed significantly to the local film industry during the shoot.

Casting and Characters

The film centres on a group of children known as the Losers Club. Jaeden Lieberher plays Bill Denbrough, the group's leader who is driven by the disappearance of his younger brother Georgie. Lieberher researched stuttering to portray Bill's speech impediment, drawing inspiration from sources like YouTube and Colin Firth's performance in The King's Speech. Finn Wolfhard was cast as the foul-mouthed Richie Tozier, the only actor who auditioned for and retained his role from Fukunaga's earlier version of the production. Sophia Lillis portrays Beverly Marsh, a tomboy dealing with an abusive home life, and Jeremy Ray Taylor plays the shy and knowledgeable Ben Hanscom.

Jack Dylan Grazer appears as the anxious and sickly Eddie Kaspbrak, and Chosen Jacobs plays Mike Hanlon, an isolated boy living on his grandfather's farm. The young actors formed a close bond during filming, which director Muschietti encouraged to foster authentic on-screen friendships. The role of Pennywise the Dancing Clown was played by Bill Skarsgård. He was selected after an extensive search that considered actors including Mark Rylance, Ben Mendelsohn, and Hugo Weaving. Will Poulter had been cast in the role when Fukunaga was attached to direct but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts after the director change.

Skarsgård aimed to create a version of Pennywise distinct from Tim Curry's earlier portrayal in the 1990 miniseries, describing the entity as an ancient, inhuman being that enjoys the hunt. Producer Dan Lin commented on Skarsgård's physicality, noting his tall and lanky build contributed to a clown-like movement. Director Muschietti wanted Pennywise to be a visible, performative presence rather than a figure lurking only in shadows, stating the character has an act and his influence is felt throughout the town. Skarsgård also described a childishness to the character, linking it to the imaginations of children.

Plot Summary

The story begins in October 1988 in Derry, Maine, when seven-year-old Georgie Denbrough is lured and killed by a clown in a storm drain who calls himself Pennywise. The following summer, Georgie's older brother Bill and his friends Richie, Eddie, and Stanley are tormented by a gang of bullies led by Henry Bowers. Bill, refusing to believe his brother is dead, convinces his friends to help him search the marshy Barrens area of town. They are joined by new kid Ben Hanscom, who has researched Derry's history of child disappearances, and later by Beverly Marsh and Mike Hanlon.

Each child begins to experience terrifying, personalized hallucinations orchestrated by Pennywise. They realize they are all being stalked by the same shape-shifting entity, which they dub "It". The group deduces that It awakens every 27 years to feed on children's fears and uses the town's sewer system to travel. After a failed confrontation with It at an abandoned house on Neibolt Street, the group briefly separates. They reunite when Beverly is abducted by Pennywise after she incapacitates her abusive father.

The Losers descend into the sewers to rescue her, where they face Henry Bowers, who has been driven mad by It and murdered his own father. In Pennywise's lair, they find Beverly catatonic after being exposed to the creature's true form, known as the Deadlights. The children must overcome their individual fears to battle Pennywise physically and psychologically, ultimately wounding It and forcing it to retreat down a well. The film ends with the group swearing a blood oath to return to Derry if It ever comes back, and Bill and Beverly share a kiss before she moves away.

Music and Technical Aspects

Composer Benjamin Wallfisch was hired in March 2017 to create the film's musical score. The score works to amplify the film's dual tones of childhood nostalgia and pervasive dread. Wallfisch incorporated elements that evoked both the innocence of the young protagonists and the ancient, otherworldly menace of Pennywise. The music helps build tension and punctuates the film's many scare sequences, contributing to the overall atmosphere. The cinematography was handled by Chung-hoon Chung, who utilized a visual style that contrasted the bright, sun-drenched scenes of summer adventure with the dark, claustrophobic interiors of sewers and abandoned buildings.

The film's editing by Jason Ballantine was noted for its pacing, which balanced character development with horror set pieces. The production design meticulously recreated the late 1980s period, from the children's clothing and bicycles to the interiors of their homes. Special effects were a blend of practical makeup and digital enhancement, particularly for the design of Pennywise and the various monstrous forms It assumes. Bill Skarsgård performed in extensive prosthetic makeup to achieve Pennywise's unsettling appearance, which was designed to feel timeless rather than modern.

The film received generally positive reviews. Critics praised the film's direction, cinematography and musical score. The film was called one of the best Stephen King adaptations. It received numerous awards and nominations. The film was nominated for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie. It appeared on several critics' end-of-year lists.

Release and Reception

It had its world premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on September 5, 2017. It was released theatrically in the United States and Canada on September 8, 2017, in both standard 2D and IMAX formats. In Canada, the film received a 14A rating. The marketing campaign, highlighted by its ominous trailers, generated substantial anticipation and buzz in the months leading up to its release. The film was a massive box office success, grossing over $704 million worldwide during its initial theatrical run.

This figure made it the highest-grossing horror film of all time unadjusted for inflation and the third-highest-grossing R-rated film at the time of its release. Subsequent re-releases pushed its total global gross to over $719 million. The film's performance demonstrated a significant appetite for theatrical horror experiences and revitalized interest in Stephen King adaptations. Critical reception was generally positive, with reviewers praising the performances of the young cast, particularly their chemistry.

Bill Skarsgård's chilling portrayal of Pennywise was frequently highlighted. Andy Muschietti's direction was commended for its effective scares and its handling of the coming-of-age elements. The film was cited as one of the better adaptations of Stephen King's work. It received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie and appeared on numerous critics' year-end lists of best films. The positive reviews and strong word-of-mouth helped sustain its box office momentum.

Legacy and Sequels

The success of It guaranteed the production of its sequel, which was confirmed shortly after the first film's release. It Chapter Two was released in 2019, directed again by Andy Muschietti. That film follows the adult members of the Losers Club, played by actors including James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain, as they return to Derry 27 years later to confront Pennywise once more. The two films together form a complete adaptation of King's novel. The 2017 film's impact extended beyond its direct sequel, contributing to a resurgence in mainstream horror and a renewed wave of Stephen King adaptations in film and television.

The character of Pennywise, as portrayed by Skarsgård, became a well-known figure in contemporary horror. The film also cemented the careers of its young cast, several of whom, like Finn Wolfhard and Sophia Lillis, moved on to other major projects. A prequel television series titled It: Welcome to Derry was announced and premiered on HBO in 2025. Bill Skarsgård reprised his role as Pennywise for the series, which explores the entity's earlier history in the town. The 2017 film remains a notable entry in modern horror cinema, recognized for its effective blend of genre scares with a poignant story about friendship and facing fears.

Canadian Production Context

The decision to film It entirely in Ontario provided a substantial economic benefit to the local film industry. The production employed numerous Canadian crew members and utilized local resources and services throughout its three-month shoot. The Greater Toronto Area's ability to convincingly double for a small New England town demonstrated its versatility as a filming location for international productions. Specific Ontario locations became integral to the film's aesthetic, with the town of Port Hope, with its well-preserved historic homes and streets, serving as the primary residential neighbourhood for the Losers Club.

Scenes in the Barrens were filmed in Oshawa, while the Riverdale neighbourhood in Toronto provided additional urban backdrops. These locations were carefully selected and sometimes altered through set dressing to achieve the desired late-1980s American look. The film's success also had a cultural impact in Canada, where it was a major box office hit. Its connection to Ontario filming locations has made it a point of interest for local film enthusiasts.

Principal photography began in Toronto on June 27, 2016. It ended on September 21, 2016. The film was filmed on locations in the Greater Toronto Area. These locations included Port Hope, Oshawa, and Riverdale. The film is set in the fictional town of Derry, Maine.

Questions about It (2017 film)

Where was the 2017 It movie filmed?

The 2017 film It was filmed entirely in Ontario, Canada. Principal photography took place from June to September 2016 on locations in the Greater Toronto Area. Specific towns used included Port Hope, which provided the neighbourhood streets, and Oshawa. Scenes were also shot in the Riverdale neighbourhood of Toronto itself. These locations stood in for the fictional town of Derry, Maine.

Who played Pennywise in the 2017 It movie?

Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård played the role of Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 2017 film. He was selected by director Andy Muschietti after an extensive casting process. Skarsgård aimed to create a version distinct from Tim Curry's earlier portrayal, describing Pennywise as an ancient, inhuman entity. Will Poulter had been originally cast when Cary Joji Fukunaga was attached to direct but left the project after the change in directors.

Is the 2017 It movie based on a book?

Yes, the 2017 film is an adaptation of Stephen King's 1986 horror novel of the same name. The film is the first part of a two-part adaptation, covering the sections of the book that focus on the characters as children. The screenplay was written by Chase Palmer, Cary Joji Fukunaga, and Gary Dauberman. It is the second major adaptation after Tommy Lee Wallace's 1990 television miniseries.

Was there a sequel to the 2017 It movie?

Yes, a sequel titled It Chapter Two was released in 2019. It continues the story 27 years later, featuring the adult versions of the Losers Club returning to Derry to face Pennywise again. Andy Muschietti returned as director, and Bill Skarsgård reprised his role as Pennywise. A prequel television series, It: Welcome to Derry, premiered on HBO in 2025, with Skarsgård returning once more.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.