8 Things IT Chapter 2 Must Do To Succeed

Stephen King's original novel isn't entirely linear; it cuts between an adult timeline in the '80s, and a child timeline in the '50s.

The 2017 movie eschews this narrative format, instead choosing to focus purely on the kids (which, in this version, is the '80s) and their battle against Pennywise, saving the adult timeline for the sequel.

And while Chapter Two will primarily be about the adults and their return to Derry, it will also feature flashbacks that take us back to the '80s to spend more time with the young cast of Chapter One.

This is definitely good news - the kids were arguably the best part of the first movie - but it could also be a dangerous move, with too many flashbacks causing the sequel to become unfocused and disjointed.

Part of what made Chapter One work so well was its near-perfect pace. Scares were evenly spread throughout the movie, slower moments never outstayed their welcome and each character was given enough time in the spotlight.

Hopefully, Chapter Two follows suit - but flashbacks could disrupt the story's flow. Imagine following the adult Losers through a really intense scene, and just when the movie has built up all that momentum and you're waiting to see the characters' next move... it cuts to a flashback.

This is an editing choice as much as anything, but at the writing stage, flashbacks should be incorporated sparingly, and - crucially - in the first half of the movie. Once things get too deep into the battle against Pennywise, removing focus from that would just be stupid, since that's what everyone really wants to see.