IT’s Bill Skarsgård Relives “Hateful” Criticism Of His Pennywise Casting After “Kind Of Mean” Studio Decision

Summary Bill Skarsgård initially faced online backlash when an image of him as Pennywise was released.

Skarsgård's role as Pennywise in IT launched his successful Hollywood career.

Skarsgård will reprise his iconic role in the IT prequel series, Welcome To Derry.

IT star Bill Skarsgård recalls the initial backlash he received following his casting as Pennywise. Directed by Andy Muschietti, this adaptation of Stephen King’s 1986 novel of the same name follows The Loser’s Club, a group of kids who go up against a malevolent force in the fictional town of Derry, Maine. Alongside the terrifying antagonist (Skarsgård), the movie stars Finn Wolfhard, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, and Sophia Lillis.

In a conversation with Esquire, Skarsgård reflects on the backlash that the debut of his character, Pennywise, got when a first-look image wasn’t well received on the internet. Online users piled on Skarsgård, making him incredibly nervous to take on the role, but the experience ultimately changed his approach to acting. Read his full comment below:

They did a thing that I felt was kind of mean. I was so incredibly nervous to start this job, and then the Internet is having so many hateful opinions on the weird, strange look of the thing. This looks so stupid.” “Lame.” “Boooo. You can only make this performance to please yourself.

IT Effectively Launched Bill Skarsgård’s Career

Skarsgård Will Return To The World Of IT

Close

Even though Skarsgård’s earliest memories of playing the famous Pennywise character aren’t exactly rosy, the role and the movie ultimately would serve as a springboard for the actor’s career. Prior to starring in IT, Skarsgård appeared in several Swedish dramas and TV roles, particularly the Emmy-nominated Hemlock Grove, which placed him in good stead, earmarking him as a promising young actor.

While Skarsgård’s initial experience on IT isn’t exactly ideal, it has undoubtedly proved to be a watershed moment for the brilliant actor.

Following his haunting and masterful performance in IT, Skarsgård quickly became a sought-after name in Hollywood. The humongous success of IT, grossing over $701 million worldwide, also made Skarsgård a fairly familiar face, and, shortly after, he was cast in other big productions like Deadpool 2 and the Stephen King-inspired series Castle Rock. Skarsgård has become so synonymous with the role for modern audiences, that he will reprise his role in the IT prequel series, Welcome To Derry.

Related Stephen King's It Prequel Can Fix The Movies' Pennywise Mistake The upcoming Pennywise prequel TV series can add one of IT's most terrifying forms, fixing one of the movies' mistakes – here's what it is.

Skarsgård returned to reprise his role in It Chapter Two, which would increase his renown even more. Even though the movie received mixed reviews, Skarsgård’s Pennywise performance was again praised, proving him to be a standout actor. Subsequently, Skarsgård has gone on to appear in the John Wick franchise, Marvel’s Eternals, and he’s gearing up to star in The Crow and Robert Eggers's Nosferatu. While Skarsgård’s initial experience on IT isn’t ideal, it has undoubtedly proved to be a watershed moment for the brilliant actor.

IT is available to rent or purchase on VOD.

Source: Esquire