Bill Skarsgård's Pennywise Expected to Appear Midseason in It: Welcome to Derry

In the HBO Max series It: Welcome to Derry, Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, though the character does not appear until the fifth episode of the eight-episode season. This deliberate delay builds anticipation, with executive producer Barbara Muschietti describing Pennywise as an unpredictable 'shark' who must be revealed sparingly to maintain his terror. Showrunner Brad Caleb Kane added that the series explores Pennywise's other shapeshifting forms beyond the clown, drawing on the creature's cosmic origins from Stephen King's novel. The first episode shocked viewers by killing several children early on, setting a dark tone for the series. Skarsgård, also an executive producer, balances his busy schedule while reprising the iconic character, who is a multi-billion-year-old cosmic entity that preys on fear. Off-screen, Skarsgård lives a private life with his partner and children, rarely sharing personal details publicly.