The new horror series IT: Welcome to Derry is building its terror carefully, as the show’s creators deliberately cast doubt on whether the clown glimpsed in the third episode is actually the iconic Pennywise. In a recent interview, showrunners Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane discussed the strategic reveal and left the true identity of the clown intentionally unclear. Their cryptic comments suggest the series is taking its time to establish its mythology, choosing to layer on psychological horror before confirming the central monster’s presence.
The Mysterious Clown Reveal
The third episode of IT: Welcome to Derry concluded with a significant moment: children developing a photograph and seeing the clear image of a clown. This marked the first proper glimpse of any clown in the series, a notable choice for a franchise famously centered on Pennywise. The episode ends on this cliffhanger, offering no further explanation about the clown’s identity or intentions.
When asked directly about this clown, the showrunners gave ambiguous answers that deepen the mystery rather than solving it. Brad Caleb Kane responded, “We think it is,” but then immediately added a qualifying statement, “however, it might not be Pennywise.” Jason Fuchs added to the uncertainty by turning the question around, stating, “I think it’s Pennywise, don’t you?” This deliberate ambiguity indicates the series is carefully controlling the narrative, potentially introducing a different clown entity altogether or slowly building toward Pennywise’s definitive arrival.
Building a Deeper Horror
The showrunners explained their methodical approach to the horror elements in the series. They emphasized that their goal is to make the series as “scary as possible” and to “make the fears that much higher”. By not immediately confirming the clown as Pennywise, they create a different kind of tension—one rooted in uncertainty and anticipation. The horror in IT: Welcome to Derry is not just reliant on jump scares but is built through a distinct level of psychological tension.
This approach of a delayed reveal serves to enhance the overall dread. Kane admitted they did not want the series to “feel less horrific” by revealing the central monster too quickly. Instead, they are “taking it up a notch” by focusing on the atmosphere and the town’s dark underpinnings before the main event. The series will reportedly explore the reason IT repeatedly chooses the form of “Pennywise the Dancing Clown” and what specifically “draws” the entity to this appearance.
Connecting to the Wider IT Mythology
This careful character introduction aligns with the established Stephen King mythology, where Pennywise’s origins are otherworldly. The entity is an ancient being that crash-landed on Earth millions of years ago and adopted the clown form because it effectively terrifies children. A scene in IT Chapter Two briefly hinted at a potential backstory where a human circus clown might have been possessed by the entity, though this was left open to interpretation.
The series will include “hints and suggestions” from King’s books, but will provide a visual depiction of these elements. The show’s creative team aims to answer lingering questions about the creature’s attraction to its clown form, potentially exploring the history of Derry and the entity’s influence on the town’s repeated cycles of violence.
The first three episodes have established that the series contains a distinct use of gore and psychological horror. The showrunners have promised that the latter half of the season will be filled with “intense moments,” suggesting that the horror will only escalate from here. Whether the clown is Pennywise or a new terror, the series is committed to building a frightening and expansive backdrop for the events of the IT films.
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