While it was always intended to spawn a second film (the first – spoiler alert – ends with a nod to that) to handle the sprawling length of the story in Stephen King's book, there hadn't been any official confirmation of the intention to make another It movie. But with the first one generating good reviews and positive box office prospects, Warner Bros. and New Line have hired writer Gary Dauberman to start work on the script.
He was one of three credited keyboard warriors on the first film, joining Chase Palmer and Cary Fukunaga, who worked on drafts while he was planning to direct, only to leave citing creative differences. Andy Muschietti ended up in the director's chair, and while he hasn't locked in a deal to return, he's said in interviews that he's already planning for the second movie.
That will, of course follow the Losers Club, seen as kids in the first, as adults, with evil creature Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) returning to haunt the town of Derry once again, only for our heroes to have effectively forgotten him. They'll have to rely on each other to battle the terrifying presence.
There's no official release date for the follow-up yet, but we can expect it within the next couple of years. Dauberman has become something of a horror go-to, with Annabelle: Creation already out this year, It releasing this week and Conjuring 2 spin-off The Nun headed our way in 2018.