It (character)

This article is about the Stephen King antagonist. Not to be confused with Cousin Itt.

Pennywise
Stephen King character
Top: A clown with red hair and white make-up presenting a seductive smile. Bottom: A clown with orange hair holds a red balloon and presents a sinister smile.
Top: Tim Curry as Pennywise in the 1990 miniseries
Bottom: Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise in the 2017 film
First appearanceIt (1986)
Created byStephen King
Portrayed by
In-universe information
Full nameUnknown (possibly nameless)
AliasesIt (sometimes capitalized "IT")
Pennywise the Dancing Clown
Robert "Bob" Gray
The Derry Disease
Eater of Worlds
RelativesThe Other (creator)
Crimson King (father)
Maturin (brother)
Mrs. Kersh ("daughter")
OriginThe Macroverse

It, also known as Pennywise, and Pennywise the Dancing Clown, is the titular antagonist in Stephen King's 1986 horror novel of the same name. The character is an ancient, trans-dimensional malevolent entity who preys upon the children (and sometimes adults) of Derry, Maine, roughly every 27 years, using a variety of powers that include the ability of shapeshifting and manipulation of reality. During the course of the story, It primarily appears in the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. "The Losers Club" becomes aware of Pennywise's presence after it kills Bill Denbrough's little brother, Georgie.

King stated in a 2013 interview that he came up with the idea for Pennywise after asking himself what children feared "more than anything else in the world", and feeling that the answer was clowns.[1] King thought of a troll like the one in the children's tale "Three Billy Goats Gruff",[2] though he imagined it living in a sewer system rather than under a bridge.

The character was portrayed in its Pennywise form by Tim Curry in the 1990 television adaptation[3] and by Bill Skarsgård in the 2017 film adaptation and its 2019 sequel It Chapter Two.[4] Skarsgård is set to reprise the role in the upcoming Max series It: Welcome to Derry, due to be released in 2025.[5]

  1. ^ Radford, Benjamin (2016). Bad Clowns. Albuquerque, New Mexico: University of New Mexico Press. pp. 29, 36, 67–69, 99–103. ISBN 978-0-8263-5667-3. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  2. ^ King, Stephen. "IT Inspiration". StephenKing.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  3. ^ Paquette, Jenifer (2012). Respecting The Stand: A Critical Analysis of Stephen King's Apocalyptic Novel. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. pp. 162–163. ISBN 978-0-7864-7001-3. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  4. ^ "IT: CHAPTER 2 Announces Its Release Date". Nerdist. September 26, 2017. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  5. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 30, 2024). "'Welcome To Derry': Bill Skarsgård To Reprise Pennywise Role In 'It' Prequel On Max". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.