Well known for his portrayal as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in both It and It: Chapter Two, Bill Skarsgård has admitted that he will not portray the villainous It in the upcoming prequel miniseries Welcome to Derry. However, he has advised whoever will don the clown makeup next. 

During an interview on Jake’s Takes, Skarsgård confirms that he will not be returning as Pennywise as of now, but he does give some tips to help whoever is next in making the character their own. “Have fun with it,” he says. “What I found pleasurable about that character is how abstract he was.” Additionally, he recommends reading the original “cocaine-binged book” by Stephen King as a reference to “find all the clues.” “There’s so so many tantrums and abstractions that you can kind of sit and decipher, and that’s what I did with the character,” Skarsgård explains. “They’re so out there that you can kind of make your own conclusions to them.”

Welcome to Derry will expand on co-producer Andy Muschietti’s directorial work on the It franchise and explore the titular town’s past and Pennywise’s influence on it. Muscchietti, alongside his co-producer sister Barbara, will work with Wonder Woman writer and It: Chapter Two co-producer Jason Fuchs to bring this story to life. When approached for a comment about the show, writer Stephen King expresses his excitement that “the story of Derry, Maine’s most haunted city, is continuing” and that “Andy Muschietti is going to be overseeing the frightening festivities, along with a brain trust including his talented sister, Barbara.”

“Red balloons all around!” King cheers.

While there is no news about the release date, Welcome to Derry is slated to be released on HBO Max.