Cary Fukunaga Explains Why He Ended Up Not Directing the ‘IT’ Remake

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Remakes are an often dreaded prospect among horror fans, but they aren’t always a bad thing. Case in point is Warner Bros.’ 2017 theatrical retelling of Stephen King’s IT, directed by Andy Muschietti, and starring Bill Skarsgard in a mesmerizing performance as Pennywise.

Of course, diehard King fans know that before Muschietti took the job, Cary Fukunaga – hot off directing True Detective season 1 for HBO – was set to helm the film. Fukunaga departed the project in 2015, citing creative differences with WB at the time of his decision.

While Muschietti’s IT made an insane amount of money and was hailed as great by most, it’ll always be a question what Fukunaga could have done with the material. During a recent interview with GQ, the director went into more detail about why he ultimately exited the film.

I think it was fear on their part, that they couldn’t control me. I would have been a total collaborator. That was the kind of ridiculous part. It was just more a perception. I have never seen a note and been like, Fuck you guys. No way. It’s always been a conversation.

I don’t think I’ve ever been able to make something uncompromising. Like, someone commented on Beasts”—Beasts of No Nation, the film about child soldiers that he adapted in 2015 from the novel of the same name—“Oh, how did it feel to make a movie that’s uncompromising? Like, uncompromising? I had to rewrite my entire third act ’cause we didn’t have the money to finish the film. We compromise all over the place.”