Bill Skarsgård Is Doing It Again

Last February, Vulture learned that an It prequel series was in the works, which we theorized meant Bill Skarsgård would probably be getting recast. A month later, the actor said that he was not currently involved in the project, so it seemed like we were right. Well, now Max has us feeling like clowns, because per Deadline, Skarsgård will in fact be reprising his role as Pennywise. Come to think of it, that does make sense — you could pull off any age necessary under all that makeup. The nine-episode show has the working title Welcome to Derry, and is inspired by the fictional universe created by Stephen King. “I’m excited that the story of Derry, Maine’s most haunted city, is continuing, and I’m glad Andy Muschietti is going to be overseeing the frightening festivities, along with a brain trust including his talented sister, Barbara,” King said in a statement when the show was first announced. “Red balloons all around!” Below, here’s what we know about Welcome to Derry, including who’s in the cast and when it will float onto our screens.

Bill Skarsgård will return to haunt children’s nightmares as Pennywise the Clown alongside previously announced cast members Taylour Paige (Zola), Jovan Adepo (Babylon), Chris Chalk (Perry Mason), and James Remar (Oppenheimer).

It’s quite the reunion. It and It Chapter Two producers Andy and Barbara Muschietti developed the show with Chapter Two producer Jason Fuchs. Andy, who directed both films, is set to direct four of the show’s nine episodes. Fuchs wrote the teleplay for the first episode and will also serve as co-showrunner alongside Brad Caleb Kane.

Welcome to Derry’s executive producers include the Muschiettis through their Double Dream production company, Fuchs, Kane, Skarsgård, David Coatsworth, Shelley Meals, Roy Lee, and Dan Lin.

An official release date has yet to be announced, but last we heard, we’ll probably need to wait another year. Per a November 2023 Deadline report, HBO and Max CEO Casey Bloys said that Welcome to Derry was originally scheduled for Halloween 2024, but would “likely” be “pushing” into 2025. This delay was reportedly due to the double Hollywood strikes.

Well, the show is based on Stephen King’s book It, which is set in Derry, Maine. It’s not that we wouldn’t love a Derry Girls crossover, but the chances do seem slim.