Fans of Stephen King’s terrifying universe finally saw the return of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise in Episode 5 of It: Welcome to Derry. After a slow-burn first half of the season, the show’s creators confirm the iconic clown is back in a big way and will show audiences new sides of the character in the series’ final episodes.
Pennywise Makes A Long-Awaited Return
The evil entity known as It finally took its most famous shape in the fifth episode of the prequel series. For the first four episodes, the show focused on other monstrous forms and the growing terror in the town of Derry. The much-anticipated reveal saw the seemingly rescued boy, Matty Clements, transform into the sinister Pennywise, marking Bill Skarsgård’s first time playing the role since 2019’s It Chapter Two.
The producers were very strategic about holding back the clown’s appearance. Series producer Barbara Muschietti explained the deliberate choice, comparing Pennywise to the shark in Jaws. She said the team wanted to keep the character’s mystery and fear alive, believing that too much familiarity would work against the terror.
Showrunner Promises Unexpected Performances
With three episodes remaining in the season, the creative team behind the HBO series promises that Skarsgård’s performance will go in fresh directions. Showrunner Jason Fuchs teased that the actor will explore new territory with the character.
Jason Fuchs said, “[Skarsgård’s] performance goes to some unexpected places [in the weeks ahead]. [He] has opportunities with this character that the story of the films did not present. Not only are you getting a really, hopefully, thrilling build-up to seeing Pennywise, you are gonna see Bill doing things you’ve not seen him do in this character yet.”
This suggests that the television format allows for a deeper exploration of Pennywise, giving Skarsgård the chance to perform scenes that were not part of the two original films.
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A Deeper Look at the Horror
The series is set in 1962, decades before the events of the It movies. It follows a family that moves to Derry just as strange disappearances begin, exploring the town’s dark history and the early reign of Pennywise. The cast includes Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, and Chris Chalk, who plays a younger version of Dick Hallorann, a character with psychic abilities from Stephen King’s The Shining.
The delayed introduction of the clown was a key part of building the show’s creepy atmosphere. By focusing on the town’s unsettling nature and It’s other forms early on, the producers aimed to make Pennywise’s actual reveal more impactful. The transformation scene in Episode 5 was described as particularly detailed and emotionally charged, blending dramatic suspense with supernatural horror.
More Connections and Twists to Come
The series has also started to reveal its deeper connections to the wider Stephen King universe. A major reveal in Episode 5 showed that Madeleine Stowe’s character, Nurse Ingrid, is actually the younger version of Mrs. Kersh, the elderly woman who torments an adult Beverly Marsh in It Chapter Two.
The producers have hinted that more character connections to the original Losers Club are coming. They noted that bloodlines and generational trauma are central themes in the story, as Pennywise awakens every 27 years to haunt a new generation. This provides a rich backdrop for the series to introduce ancestors of the characters fans know from the films.
New episodes of It: Welcome to Derry air every Sunday on HBO.
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