Why Bill Skarsgård almost didn’t return as Pennywise amid Welcome to Derry comeback
Bill Skarsgård has reprised his role of Pennywise the Clown in the latest It adaptation, Welcome to Derry, much to the delight of horror fans.
The prequel, based on Stephen King's 1986 horror novel, debuted on October 26 on HBO Max with new episodes dropping weekly.
King isn't directly involved with the new TV series, produced by siblings Andy and Barbara Muschietti, but has thrown his support behind it. And in last night's instalment (November 23), we finally saw Skarsgård return as the notorious killer clown.
It was confirmed back in 2023 that King's It was getting a prequel series, documenting the years leading up to the events that unfolded in his critically acclaimed novel.
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Skarsgård also portrayed Pennywise in the 2017 movie It and its 2019 sequel, It Chapter Two, much to critical acclaim.
But the 35-year-old wasn't always on board with the idea of coming back as Pennywise for the prequel series, and it turns out that he almost turned down the offer to make a return, with the temptation being there to bring his time as Pennywise the Dancing Clown to an end for good.
On an episode of Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast last year, in aid of the horror-mystery he starred in alongside Lily-Rose Depp, Nosferatu, Skarsgård revealed what made him change his mind.
Explaining how he felt torn on whether to revisit Pennywise, the Swedish actor said: "I felt like I was done with it, in a way. It was also because I was shooting this [Nosferatu], I was doing [Count] Orlok, and, to me, it felt like, 'This is the nail in the coffin of my monster roles'.
"Pun intended."
Skarsgård continued: "So I did feel I was kind of over it and wanted to do different things. The Pennywise thing as well, I’ve been quite defined by it. Like, that’s 26-year-old me, I’m not still a young man."
But it was Skarsgård's close relationship with the Muschiettis - the brother and sister filmmaking duo behind It - that won him over in the end.
"Barbara and Andy, the Muschettis, are doing it and I love them," he said.
"They’re very close friends. Family, even. I’m the godfather of his son. I love them," he added. "So, alright, let’s bring him back."
And there you have it!
It: Welcome to Derry is streaming now on HBO Max in the US and NOW in the UK, with new episodes dropping weekly.
Topics: Stephen King, Horror, Film and TV, Streaming, Hollywood
Ellie Kemp