This Brilliant Stephen King Theory Makes Pennywise An Even Scarier Villain

Pennywise is one of the most iconic villains to ever come out of Stephen King's writing, but the Easter Egg connections in books like Dreamcatcher make him even more terrifying. King is one of the most prolific horror writers of all time, and his characters and stories have been adapted dozens of times, making his reach extend far beyond his books and the die-hard fans. Thanks to numerous adaptations, characters like Carrie, Cujo, and Pennywise are all common knowledge, regardless of whether anyone has even heard of the books that inspired them.

However, within King's fantasy universe of stories, there are some loose connections which occasionally appear. Considering many of his novels are set in the rural Northeast of the United States, with Maine getting particular attention, King often adds Easter Eggs linking stories together. And specifically, one character from one of King's most popular books of all time, Pennywise from It, has had several mentions in other novels. However, these minor moments could actually hint at Pennywise being even more powerful than the books or movies have revealed to date.

This Stephen King Theory Brilliantly Explains Dreamcatcher's "Pennywise Lives" Graffiti

Pennywise's Reach Goes Beyond It

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In reference to one such famous mention in King's 2001 novel, Dreamcatcher, a Reddit user has proposed a theory about why the "Pennywise Lives" graffiti is important, and what it means for the character. The alien who is at the center of the story in Dreamcatcher, Mr. Gray, has a similar plan to infect the Derry town water supply with its spores in order to reproduce. This is also what Pennywise was planning to reproduce and spread out over Derry. However, with the graffiti being placed on a plaque from the Losers Club in 1985, it seems like Pennywise was not killed like the group in It thought.

Not only does it hint at Pennywise's survival, but the presence of this message in a spot to try and warn off another alien from enacting a similar plan to the evil clown could be a sign of just how powerful and influential Pennywise is. The theory from Reddit user AttitudeDiligent263 goes on to suggest that this warning from Pennywise to another alien indicates that Pennywise is standing up for and claiming its territory in the face of another alien threat. This suggests that Pennywise is not only strong enough to terrorize humans, but likely other alien species as well.

Dreamcatcher's Easter Egg Could Mean Pennywise Or Its Offspring Are Still Alive

Pennywise Could Still Be Alive After His Final Battle With The Losers Club

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It, was set in two distinct time periods. One part, when the Losers Club were all kids, is set between 1957 and 1958. Then, the book shifts to a later time period when the kids are grown up, mostly moved out of Derry, and living good lives. This part of the narrative plays out between 1984 and 1985. The plaque that is left by the Losers Club is clearly placed after their final battle, and serves as a monument to remember the former victims, and it's dated May 31, 1985.

Pennywise is standing up for and claiming its territory in the face of another alien threat.

However, Pennywise is supposedly dead by the time the Losers put the plaque in place. So, how is there a message declaring "Pennywise Lives" spray-painted over it, if the evil clown is actually dead? Simply put, it appears that he may not be dead, just as the message implies. Pennywise may have been a threat to Derry, but Pennywise also had a strict timeline that he worked within. He would attack every 27 years. Since Dreamcatcher is roughly set in 2000 or 2001, this would only be 15 or 16 years after the previous attack. So the warning could be foreshadowing something that happens over a decade after Dreamcatcher ends.

Other Alien Species Fearing Pennywise Makes It's Villain Even More Intimidating

Pennywise Isn't Afraid Of Other Aliens

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Pennywise proves how powerful he is in It, where his actions stretch back decades and centuries, showing the close link between the clown and Derry. His power and influence caused the inhabitants to behave in specific ways, and even altered their minds on a fundamental level. This power was extremely effective against humans, but his ominous message on the plaque suggests that Pennywise's powers could be useful against other aliens too. Rather than hesitating to challenge another powerful alien, the warning is clear and provocative.

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If Pennywise has the confidence to go up against other species of aliens, who possess powers beyond the average human, it speaks to his confidence about his own powers. Perhaps it can also feed on the emotions and fears of other aliens. Mr. Gray appears confused by the message, and as the text continues, it appears that the name is unfamiliar, but that doesn't change the fact that the warning is given so boldly. Ultimately, whether Pennywise is alive, or dead, powerful enough to take on other alien armies, or just overconfident, it's interesting to see how Stephen King links his stories together.