Though the movie makes Richie's sexual orientation and feelings for Eddie explicit, director Andy Muschietti and his sister, producer Barbara Muschietti, say this plot point is drawn directly from King's work. The character's sexuality had been hinted at in the book, and over the years many fans theorized that he had more feelings than just friendship for Eddie. It Chapter Two made text what had only been subtext in Stephen King's original book: wise-cracking Losers' Club member Richie Tozier is a gay man, and has romantic feelings for his fellow Loser Eddie Kaspbrak.
