You’ve got to admit it: Casting one of the kids from Stranger Things was a genius move by the makers of the upcoming big-screen adaptation of Stephen King’s It. The Netflix series was a love letter to 80s movies like Stand By Me, E.T., The Goonies, and Silver Bullet– with very distinct nods to King’s ouevre throughout its first season. 

It’s a move that almost makes me overlook my grudge against this remake. What grudge, you ask? Well, I’m still burned by the fact that this was going to be an epic two-part movie that was written and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective Season 1, Beasts of No Nation). He was all set to bring his phenomenal skills to It before he had a falling out with Warner Bros. that led to his departure from the project.

Still, I’ve got to hand it to them for casting Finn Wolfhard, who was great as the emotional center in Stranger Things. Below, you’ll find your first look at Wolfhard in It:

The photo comes courtesy of producer Barbara Muschietti, who posted it onher Instagram. The shot is clearly from one of the flashback portions of It, where we get to know a group of kids who get pursued by the demonic entity known as Pennywise. These portions of the film are surely very familiar to Wolfhard, as they’re set in the 80s- just like Stranger Things.

It, directed by Andres Muschietti (Mama), comes out on September 8.

SOURCE: Instagram