IT Chapter 2: Who is Pennywise? Who plays scary clown in Stephen King sequel?

Horror fans were sent into a frenzy after the chilling trailer for It: Chapter Two dropped this week. The long-awaited sequel to the 2017 adaptation of Steven King’s scary novel will hit UK cinemas on September 6. In the last film a group of plucky teenagers took on the vicious monster who snatched classmates and family from their midst. The sequel is set 27 years on from the last film, when a devastating phone call draws the now grown-up group of high schools friends back to their hometown to fight the clown.

Who is Pennywise?

Pennywise or “It” is the evil creature at the centre of the Stephen King novel and movie adaptations.

The character is an ancient cosmic evil which preys upon the children using a variety of powers that include the ability to shapeshift, manipulate, and go unnoticed by adults.

In Stephen King’s novel it primarily appears in the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

Pennywise is played by Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård in the upcoming movie, who warned his character is even more evil in It: Chapter Two than the last film.

He told Entertainment Weekly: “His last line – ‘Fear…’ – is him experiencing it for the first time, and he’s sort of shocked and perplexed and surprised. Like, what is this?”

After he was turn at the close of the first film, It: Chapter Two sees Pennywise on a quest for vengeance.

“It fuels hatred and anger towards the kids, who will be adults in this one, so I think there might be an even more vicious Pennywise. He’s really going after it.”

In an interview with Metro Skarsgård revealed letting go of the evil character was like an exorcism for him.

He said: “After we wrapped, I was in my childhood home in Sweden, sitting having coffee with my mom at our kitchen table, and realised, “Oh, holy s***, I don’t have to deal with this relationship anymore!”

“It was a very quick shift of just feeling better, like, ‘Oh my God, I’m relieved that I don’t have to deal with the darkness of the character.’

“I likened it to an exorcism – him exiting my body and getting rid of the Pennywise toxins.”

Skarsgård is one of the only cast members who kept his role from the first movie.

As the film is set years late the cast has now grown-up and needed adult actors to suit.

The star-studded cast list for IT: Chapter Two is as follows:

Beverly Marsh: Jessica Chastain

Bill Denbrough: James McAvoy

Richie Tozier: Bill Hader

Ben Hansom: Jay Ryan

Eddie Kaspbrak: James Ransone

Stanley Uris: Andy Bean

Mike Hanlon: Isaiah Mustafa

Pennywise: Bill Skarsgård

As fans of the original Stephen King source book already know, the main story is divided into two time periods. 

The film picks up 27 years after the harrowing events of the first.

Although Pennywise had appeared defeated, the town histories already showed that he returns at regular intervals and it is time once more for red balloons to float over the unfortunate town of Derry. 

IT: Chapter 2 is out on September 6