Report: Cary Fukunaga Leaves IT Reboot

File this one under “shocking.” The Wrap is reporting that True Detective director Cary Fukunaga has left his IT reboot project after battles with the studio. IT has been a passion project for Fukunaga for a long time, so his departure comes as a major surprise.

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And a very disappointing surprise at that.

According to The Wrap’s sources, Fukunaga was not willing to compromise on his vision for the project. Apparently, New Line demanded a series of budget cuts that proved to be too much. Cary Fukunaga had been talking about IT for several months and was obviously very excited for the project.

In fact, it wasn’t too long ago that they announced the casting of the killer clown, Pennywise. It appeared as if everything was moving forward smoothly, but that doesn’t seem to have been the case. There hasn’t been an official statement on Fukunaga’s departure, and the entire reboot is now up in the air.

We’re not going to mince words here: this is a major disappointment. Cary Fukunaga is a proven director with a definite vision, and IT under his care was sounding like something to be excited about. The relationship between directors and the major studios can be turbulent, and things like this happen all the time.

But it feels as if this project was something worth saving. That may happen; New Line could bring in a new director and move forward. But it wouldn’t be the same, and it definitely wouldn’t be Cary Fukunaga’s IT. It’s possible that something could be worked out at Fukunaga could return, much like David Lynch’s recent return to Twin Peaks.

But it’s doubtful. We’re sad to see Fukunaga go, and we can’t say that we’re optimistic about IT’s future. A two-part IT reboot may have been too good to be true from the start.

Next: Showtime's The Affair is a fine companion to True Detective.

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