Some ofStephen King’s novels have found great success on the big screen, among them Andy Muschietti’sItduology, which doesn’t need a sequel to keep expanding. Stephen King has allowed generations of readers to explore a variety of fears through his stories for decades, and many of them have been adapted to other media. One of King’s most popular and successful novels isIt, published in 1986, which introduced the world to a one-of-a-kind villain that takes the shape of its targets’ biggest fears.
It’s preferred shape is that of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, who has become one of the most popular andterrifying characters in King’s universe.Itgot its first adaptation as a TV miniseries in 1990, and in 2017, it got its first big-screen adaptation. For the latter, the novel was split into two movies, and the time settings were changed to 1989 and 2016. BothItmovies were a commercial success, and though there have been talks about a third movie, there’s no need for it to keep expanding this world.
There’s No Point For It Chapter 3 After Chapter 2’s Perfect Ending
It Chapter Two Gave The Losers A Proper Ending
Talks about a thirdItmovie within the universe of Muschietti’s movies began in 2019, not long after the release ofIt Chapter Two. Pennywise actor Bill Skarsgård spoke toEWin 2019 about the possibility of a third movie but emphasized that it would have to be a movie outside the book asChapter Twoends where the novel ends. Screenwriter Gary Dauberman toldio9later that year that he believed a third movie could be possible as there was only so much they could tell in just two movies and the Stephen King universe is very extensive and rich.
The most recent tease about the possibility ofIt Chapter 3comes from (grown-up) Mike Hanlon actor Isaiah Mustafa, who toldScreen Rantthat he wouldn’t turn down an offer to play Mike again in a third movie, but that he doesn’t think there’s anything to continue the story. Echoing Skarsgård’s thoughts on a thirdItmovie,Chapter Twogave a proper and fulfilling ending to the surviving Losers. Following Eddie’s (James Ransone) death by It in the sewers, the rest of the Losers confronted the creature.
With It now dead, nothing else tying the Losers to Derry, and Mike himself leaving, It Chapter 3 would be pointless.
Mike ripped out It’s heart and he and the rest of the Losers crushed it, finally killing It. Atthe end ofIt Chapter Two, Ben and Bev got married, Richie did his best to cope with Eddie’s death, Bill began to write his new story, and Mike moved out of Derry. With It now dead, nothing else tying the Losers to Derry, and Mike himself leaving (when, in the book, he only considers leaving),It Chapter 3would be pointless, andnot even bringing Mike back could make a third story work.
Pennywise Appears In Other Stephen King Stories Unrelated To It
Sorry, No More Losers & Pennywise
In the novel, It also meets its end thanks to the Losers. While Ben destroys the eggs that It in its female spider shape laid,Bill fights his way inside It’s body and finds its heart, which he then destroys. Once they get out of It’s lair, a storm destroys Derry’s downtown, and the Losers’ memories of It and everything they went through with their friends because of the creature begin to fade. However,Pennywise has appeared in other King novels, all of them unrelated to its original novel.
In 1987’sThe Tommyknockers, the main character sees a “clown with shiny silver dollars for eyes”staring at him from the sewer drains, but this might have been a hallucination. In 1994’sInsomnia, which is set in Derry, there are references to the events in the first part ofItas well as to the Deadlights (which are part ofKing’s Macroverse). In 2001’sDreamcatcher, there’s a memorial to honor the victims and graffiti that reads “Pennywise Lives.” In 2018’sElevation, a local band in Castle Rock changed their name to Pennywise and the Clowns for the annual Halloween dance.
What Does Pennywise Really Look Like In IT?
IT’s preferred form is that of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, but the true form of this shapeshifting entity is much more complex than that.
As intriguing as these appearances and references are,they don’t necessarily confirm that It continued to live after the novel, so there really isn’t a continuation to its story after the Losers crushed its heart and killed its offspring. There’s no canon material for a thirdItmovie, but that doesn’t mean this world can’t keep expanding.
It Will Continue To Expand With A Prequel Series
Welcome To Derry Is A Prequel To Muschietti’s It movies
A third movie isn’t the only wayItcan expand. The movies are already doing so with a prequel TV series titledWelcome To Derry, set in the 1960s to follow one of It’s previous killing sprees. The show has Skarsgård back as Pennywise the Clown and one direct connection to the Losers with the presence of Will Hanlon, Mike’s father. If the first season ofWelcome to Derrysucceeds, there are plans to expand it with two more that would go further back in time, better exploringPennywise’s originsand other chapters inDerry’s cursed history.
Even though the novel ends whereIt Chapter Twodoes and there are no official continuations to King’s novel,the world of It has the potential to expand without the Losers. Prequels are the best way to do so, but there can also be spinoffs either set in the past or parallel to the events of the movies.
