‘It: Welcome to Derry’ — Bill Skarsgård Explains Why He Almost Didn’t Return as Pennywise
Although IT: Welcome to Derry ultimately brought Pennywise back to screens, Bill Skarsgård admits he wasn’t immediately convinced that returning to the role was the right move.
Speaking in a recent interview via ScreenRant, Skarsgård explained that he initially worried about revisiting the character in the TV format, nervous that expanding Pennywise into a series risked diluting what made the previous two movies so special. The actor said he was hesitant about “milking” the character if the project couldn’t match the impact of the films.
Those doubts shifted once Skarsgård was presented with the creative plan for the series. He said the show allowed him to explore new sides of Pennywise that hadn’t been seen before, offering moments that expanded the character’s presence and performance. Reuniting with director Andy Muschietti also helped reassure him, with Skarsgård noting that the collaboration led to several scenes he found particularly rewarding to play.
Set in 1962, IT: Welcome to Derry serves as a prequel to the recent IT films, tracing the origins of the murderous, shape-shifting entity long before the events of the movies. Muschietti directed four episodes and developed the series alongside Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs, with Fuchs co-showrunning the show with Brad Caleb Kane.
The series features an ensemble cast including Jovan Adepo, Taylour Paige, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, and Rudy Mancuso, with a large supporting cast rounding out the town of Derry.
Season one of IT: Welcome to Derry is now streaming and arrives on physical media May 5 after being widely recognized as one of the standout horror television releases of 2025.
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