The first glimpse of IT has arrived. Based on the iconic – and terrifying – novel by Stephen King, comes a new horror thriller from director Andrés Muschietti (who made a splash a few years back with the Jessica Chastain-headlined scarer Mama). This may be up another league as the filmmaker offers a new iteration of an iconic Big Bad named Pennywise, portrayed (in what may be a star-making turn) by Bill Skarsgård (Hemlock Grove).

The story follows: “When children begin to disappear in the town of Derry, Maine, a group of young kids are faced with their biggest fears when they square off against an evil clown named Pennywise, whose history of murder and violence dates back for centuries. ” Gary Dauberman, Chase Palmer and Cary Joji Fukunaga penned the adaptation; Fukunaga – writer-director of the acclaimed, award-winning Beasts of No Nation and Emmy-winning director of the HBO series True Detective – was once tapped to direct IT.

Rising actors including Jaeden Lieberher (Midnight Special), Jeremy Ray Taylor (Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip), Sophia Lillis (37), Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things), Wyatt Oleff (Guardians of the Galaxy), Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer and Nicholas Hamilton (Captain Fantastic) co-star.

IT hits theaters on September 8th.