He didn’t want the role: this 2025 series stuns everyone

Evil clowns don’t come scarier than Pennywise, but behind the greasepaint and menacing grin, there’s one actor who very nearly didn’t don the cursed red nose for HBO’s latest series. That’s right: Bill Skarsgård hesitated, and for a moment, Welcome to Derry almost had a new name painted on the circus tent. So, what made the man behind your childhood nightmares almost skip what’s now being hailed as one of the best series of 2025?

Welcome to Derry: An Acclaimed Horror Return

On October 26, 2025, HBO unleashed ÇA: Welcome to Derry, and let’s cut straight to the chase: it’s not just good. With an 82% average on Rotten Tomatoes and a tidal wave of acclaim from Stephen King’s fanbase, this chilling prequel didn’t just float—it soared (balloon pun fully intended). Available for your trembling pleasure in France via HBO Max, the series quickly emerged as a standout in a jam-packed TV year.

The masterminds behind this dark carnival? Andrés Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs are steering the ship, bringing us a prequel to the recent films IT (2017) and IT: Chapter 2 (2019), both directed by Andrés Muschietti. Set in the 1960s, the series spins a brand-new, unseen chapter, plunging into the grim origins of Pennywise—the very creature that has haunted generations (and whose French name, Grippe-Sou, is somehow both whimsical and terrifying in its own right).

Bill Skarsgård: Born for the Role—But He Hesitated

Few would dispute that Bill Skarsgård appears tailor-made for Pennywise’s nightmarish shoes, consistently offering a performance that lodges itself deep in viewers’ minds (whether you want it there or not). But get this: the show nearly happened without him. In a frank chat with Screen Rant, Skarsgård admitted he’d spent a long time seriously doubting whether to sign on for another turn in the storm drain.

This wasn’t cold feet in the classic sense—the actor wasn’t scared about the risk of “not being able to detach” from the role. Instead, his fear was actually of diving back into Pennywise’s skin and ruining what, so far, had made the films so successful. As he put it himself, “We had already done two films and they are really good. So I didn’t want to risk it all with a series that might not measure up to the success of the movies.” And really, who wants to be the clown that stays at the party too long?

• He nearly declined the offer to protect the legacy of the films.
• The hesitation was about not diluting past successes.
• A unique story and ambitious character development changed his mind.

Fortunately for horror fans everywhere (and unfortunately for anyone afraid of clowns), Skarsgård’s doubts evaporated once the creative team presented their fresh vision. What they offered was a narrative and a take on his character that simply hadn’t been seen before.

Digging Deeper into Pennywise’s Dark Past

“In the end, I feel like we explored aspects of Pennywise we had never seen or talked about before,” Skarsgård shared. His collaboration with Andy Muschietti was, as always, a blast: “Andy and I always have a lot of fun together, and I think we really took advantage of these new angles.” Shooting certain scenes, Skarsgård revealed that every session became an opportunity to uncover a new side to Pennywise—a fresh layer of horror, or even just a wickedly entertaining acting challenge.

He didn’t just dive back in—the experience brought fresh fun and discovery: “Even for Pennywise’s performance, we would say: ‘OK, here’s an exciting scene, and we discover something new about Pennywise, or we learn more about him.’ I really enjoyed filming those scenes.” For a series all about confronting your nightmares, that’s about as close to fun as you’re going to get.

Critics (and Fans) Rave: Welcome to Derry Is Worth the Hype

Was all this handwringing worth it? The early verdict: a resounding yes.

• “I’m genuinely surprised by the quality of this series, especially given how an expansion of this universe might have felt superfluous. But what shocked me most is how it enriches not just the mythos of IT, but Stephen King’s as a whole,” writes one reviewer.
• Others chime in with lavish praise: “Welcome to Derry is an incredible prequel that offers a deeper glimpse into Pennywise’s origins. The series is thrilling, suspenseful, and brilliantly made.”
• “Absolutely incredible! The writing, the horror, and the acting are outstanding, everything is perfect. After the disappointment of Stranger Things, I was pleasantly surprised.”

That’s quite a list of compliments—no shortage of positive vibes from both critics and fans who seem relieved (and maybe a little shocked) by how much the series offers.

If you thought you’d never need another trip to Derry after the films, think again. Welcome to Derry proves some parties are worth a return—especially when the ringmaster is terrifying enough to make you forget your real-life troubles, if only for a few hours.

So, the moral of the story? Sometimes, even monsters need a little convincing to come back for an encore. Aren’t we all glad Bill Skarsgård said yes?