Late last month, production finally got under way on New Line’s long-awaited adaptation ofStephen King’s iconic novelIT, with directorAndy Muschiettishowcasing a hand-drawn illustration of the legendary villain,Pennywisethe clown. The first photos from the set surfaced earlier this week, but we didn’t get to see any of the cast members in these images. Today we have our first official look at Pennywise, who will be played byBill Skarsgard.
For quite some time, it looked likeITmay not be happening, with the production hitting a number of stumbling blocks, including the departure of directorCary Fukunaga, who had been attached for many years. He was eventually replaced byAndy Muschietti, withBill Skarsgardcoming aboard in early June.Entertainment Weeklydebuted this first-look photo of Pennywise, and they also talked to the actor who is portraying him. Here’s whatBill Skarsgardhad to say about this “extreme character.”
“It’s such an extreme character. Inhumane. It’s beyond even a sociopath, because he’s not even human. He’s not even a clown. I’m playing just one of the beings It creates.”
Stephen King’s novel was previously adapted into a 1990 miniseries of the same name, whereTim Curryplayed Pennywise. This adaptation will actually be split into two movies, with the first centering on a group of children known as The Losers Club, who must fight off this evil spirit known as IT. The second movie will bring these characters back together as adults, as they must stop IT once and for all. While there isn’t much else we know about the story at this point,Bill Skarsgardteased that this movie will offer a fresh take on the original novel.
“It’s important that we do something fresh and original for this one. It’s purposely not going toward that weird, greasy look. It truly enjoys the shape of the clown Pennywise, and enjoys the game and the hunt. What’s funny to this evil entity might not be funny to everyone else. But he thinks it’s funny.”
Bill Skarsgardleads a cast that also includesJaden Lieberher,Finn Wolfhard,Jack Dylan Grazer,Wyatt Oleff,Chosen JacobsandJeremy Ray Tayloras members of theLosers Club, withOwen Teagueplaying Billy, a psychotic bully who torments this group. New Line has set a August 02, 2025 release date forIT, which currently doesn’t have any direct competition, but that will surely change. While we wait for moreset photosas production continues, take a look at Pennywise below fromIT.
