When It: Welcome to Derry was first announced, fans were eager to see whether Bill Skarsgård would reprise his chilling take on Pennywise. While he ultimately did return, the actor has now explained that the decision did not come easily and was shaped by genuine creative concerns about revisiting the franchise.
Bill Skarsgård was reluctant to return as Pennywise for It: Welcome to Derry
Skarsgård first brought Stephen King’s ancient evil to life in Andy Muschietti’s 2017 hit and its 2019 sequel, a role that catapulted him to international fame. The prequel series, co-created by Muschietti, explores IT’s earlier feeding cycle in the 1960s and explores the creature’s cosmic origins. Despite the project’s compelling premise, Skarsgård entered negotiations with clear hesitation.
He explained to ScreenRant that he was “more hesitant about it going into it than going out of it,” having ultimately found the experience rewarding. His primary concern stemmed from a desire to protect the legacy of the films.
Skarsgård recalled thinking that “we did the two movies, and they were very successful,” and expressed a worry that “you don’t want to milk this one out with a TV show” that might not match the high bar set by the predecessors. However, the creative team’s vision won him over. Once presented with It: Welcome to Derry’s plan and specific material for his return as Pennywise, Skarsgård saw an opportunity to evolve the character.
He shared, “I feel that, in the end, we explored some parts of Pennywise that we hadn’t seen before or hadn’t done. Andy and I always have fun together, and I think that we did those aspects of it. Even with Pennywise’s performance, there was like, “Okay, here’s a juicy scene, and you see something else from Pennywise, or more of him.” I had fun with those scenes, for sure.”
Skarsgård’s initial caution mirrored that of many Stephen King fans, who questioned the need for a series after the mixed reception of It: Chapter Two. Assurances of King’s involvement and his subsequent praise for the “amazing” series helped turn the tide.
