Watch: Comparing IT 2017 versus 1990

In 1990, the live-action adaptation of Stephen King‘s It was broadcast on TV and it forever altered the perception of clowns. The two-part event not only created iconic imagery that frightens people to this day, but also kicked off an influx of King adaptations on screens both big and small throughout the ’90s.

One of this year’s most hotly anticipated films is the R-rated theatrical adaptation. Its teaser trailer was just released this week and although it might be too early to determine how good the first installment in the adaptation will be, there are a few clues that the trailer reveals it will stay very close to the original.

One thing that many recent adaptations have done is attempt to completely distance itself from anything audiences might be familiar with so it doesn’t feel repetitive. Fortunately, this version of It not only recreates some iconic shots from the ’90 film, but also makes specific references to the book — such as events are set in Derry, ME (a popular locale for Stephen King stories), a sign for Jackson Street (the exact street from the book), and one scene features a poster that says, “Read a Book,” encouraging audiences to seek out the source material.

Conversely, the original adaptation was produced for television, which meant it had many limitations. It had to be heavily censored and some of the book’s more intense scenes needed to be cut. In that respect, this film will be better able to create tension by showing the more gruesome scenes. Case in point, Pennywise is no longer a playful clown whose personality makes him scary, but the theatrical version can make him the monstrous being conveyed in the novel, inspiring new nightmares for audiences.

One of the single most iconic and memorable element about It was (and is) Pennywise, the nightmarish clown. Images have been released of Bill Skarsgård in full makeup, so the filmmakers aren’t trying to keep him hidden, but in the teaser, we only see him in a few shots and is mostly obscured. The filmmakers could have easily filled the teaser with the killer clown just to sell tickets, but not giving audiences the clown in all his glory shows they know how to show restraint with their big villain. Recreating the scenes from the original versus what we have seen already only goes to widen the gap versus what was then and what will soon be.

The cast features Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise, Javier Botet as The Leper, Jaeden Lieberher as Bill Denbrough, Jeremy Ray Taylor as Ben Hanscom, Sophia Lillis as Beverly Marsh, Finn Wolfhard as Richie Tozier, Jack Dylan Grazer as Eddie Kaspbrak, Chosen Jacobs as Mike Hanlon, Wyatt Oleff as Stanley Uris, Nicholas Hamilton as Henry Bowers, Owen Teague as Patrick Hockstetter, and Logan Thompson as Victor Criss.

IT will hit theaters September 8th, 2017.

MORE from IT: You Won’t Believe What Actor Was Almost Cast As Pennywise In IT Adaptation | New Glimpse Of Pennywise On Stephen King’s IT Set / It Director Andy Muschietti Teases First Look At Pennywise Character