Summary

• Bill Skarsgård's iconic portrayal of Pennywise is not planned to be featured in the IT prequel series Welcome to Derry.
• Skarsgård's recent success in horror films and his previous role in the Stephen King series Castle Rock increase the likelihood of his return.
• The ability for Pennywise to change form easily opens up the possibility for Skarsgård to make a cameo appearance in the prequel at some point.

Now that Welcome to Derry has revealed its first footage, viewers are understandably wondering whether the new Stephen King show will bring back Bill Skarsgård’s terrifying version of IT’s Pennywise. Skarsgård had his work cut out for him when the actor was cast as Pennywise the Clown in 2017’s IT. The Stephen King villain was already iconic before the novel was adapted, then Tim Curry’s hilarious and chilling take on Pennywise became the definitive version of the character when the 1990 miniseries aired. As such, Skarsgård needed to provide a fresh take on King's infamous monster, who is central to the two-part story of the IT movies.

Luckily, the actor succeeded. Skarsgård brought a disconcerting innocence and a creepy, inhuman edge to his Pennywise that contrasted with Curry’s louder, campier incarnation of the character. However, the IT prequel series Welcome to Derry may have to reinvent the villain all over again when the show returns to the world depicted in the films. Welcome to Derry is a prequel to director Andy Muschietti’s two-part IT movie adaptation, but this doesn’t mean that the show will bring back the original cast. Most of the Losers Club characters central to the main story weren’t even born at the time that the series takes place, which is in the 1960s.

Bill Skarsgård Has Said He's Not Involved With The Welcome To Derry Show

Even though the villain has been around for hundreds of years, Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise will not appear in Welcome to Derry, at least not initially. In an interview with Jake'sTakes in March 2023, Skarsgård confirmed he was not attached to the show. This means that the actor wasn’t involved in the project at that point, but it doesn’t preclude the possibility of Skarsgård ing the series in the future. Welcome to Derry is an IT prequel, so the actor could easily appear if the creators work something out. What makes this more likely is his recent screen pedigree.

Skarsgård earned critical acclaim for his role in the 2022 movie Barbarian, and he will soon play the lead in Robert Eggers’s Nosferatu remake, both of which prove that he still maintains an active interest in the horror genre. While the actor’s busy slate might make it tough for him to return, the fact that he also played a major role in the short-lived Stephen King series Castle Rock bodes even better for the odds of him returning in Welcome to Derry. After all, Castle Rock was centered around a fictional small town from many of King's interlinked stories. The same description could be applied to Welcome to Derry.

He Could Easily Return As Pennywise To The It Prequel Later

There is a good chance that Welcome to Derry could eventually pique Bill Skarsgård's interest. The fact that the character can change form at will means that Welcome to Derry could bring back Skarsgård's Pennywise without needing to rely on him in every episode. Pennywise’s shifting appearance is part of what makes him so scary, so the prequel show could easily bring back his movie incarnation after it starts. Although the actor has said he's not involved with the project, it wouldn't be surprising if he did show up in Welcome to Derry at some point.