A new film take on the classic Stephen King novel “It” has crawled out of the sewer with a first look at its famous antagonist.
Bill Skarsgard (yes, one of those Skarsgards) takes the role of Pennywise, a horrifying clown who tortures a tight-knit group of friends in their formative years and later as adults.
A project initially slated for director Cary Fukunaga and actor Will Poulter, the New Line film pairs Skarsgard and director Andrés Muschietti (“Mama”).
Pennywise lurks below in new photo from @StephenKing’s thriller #ITMovie: https://t.co/7KEnU6Nn2a pic.twitter.com/tp7LnWHIrH
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) December 26, 2016
Filling the sizable clown shoes of Tim Curry, Skarsgard’s Pennywise has the hallmarks of his predecessor: Sherwin-Williams-white skin, a black stub nose and menacing face makeup. What’s new — and, call us crazy, reminiscent of President-elect Trump — is an update to the character’s classic receding hairline and a major red pompadour.
Skarsgard also sports what looks to be a chiffon collar in dingy tricolor — or simply stained with blood in various stages of fading.
“Pennywise shows up, he’s front and center, and he does his show. He has an act,” Muschietti told EW. “So it’s weird all the time, and every little thing implies a further threat.”
The director also indicated Pennywise has some serious jokes in the Sept. 8 wide release — but, sorry, nothing is funny about this first look.
“It” also stars Finn Wolfhard (“Stranger Things”), Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor and Jaden Lieberher.