Cary Fukunaga, who directed the first season of TV show True Detective, has reportedly backed out the adaptation of author Stephen King’s landmark novel It.
According to sources, New Line Cinema and Fukunaga are parting ways over budgetary allocations that stem from a difference in creative visions, reports hollywoodreporter.com.
The film was due to begin shooting in three weeks.
The story follows a group of teens called the Losers Club who defeat a creature called It. Years later, the creature returns, and the members of the club — now adults — have to band together again even though they have no memory of the first battle.
The plan was for the first movie to tell the children’s story and the second movie to focus on the adults.
The source added that New Line had allocated $30 million (Dh110 million) but that Fukunaga’s drafts were coming in at a higher number. And even with the start of principal photography approaching, the script was still being reworked.
Executives, producers and the director realised they were at an impasse and would not make their start date. Fukunaga decided to leave the project, which has now been delayed indefinitely.