This is an earlier pilot ordered by Hulu based on the same comic as the Netflix series announced in 2018. It shares some of the same producers and Joe Hill, but is more horror oriented than the fantasy based Netflix series.
Seven scripts for the series to be based on the pilot were written before Hulu pulled the plug. For the subsequent Netflix version by the same production team a different emphasis was undertaken plus recasting and the scripting restarted from scratch.
In early 2018, online news sources reported Hulu had passed on the pilot.
Andy Muschietti was going to direct the new series Netflix ordered but couldn't due to scheduling conflicts. He did, however, remain on board the Netflix series as an executive producer.
In 2017, Scott Derrickson was originally set to direct the pilot, but had to drop out due to a scheduling conflict.