The big screen remake of Stephen King’s It has been through the wringer in recent years, losing director Cary Fukunaga due to creative differences and later star Will Poulter. However, it’s now coming together nicely with new helmer Andrés Muschietti and a different Pennywise the Clown in the form of Bill Skarsgård, and you can get a first look at him in the role below.

“It’s such an extreme character. Inhumane,” the actor explains. “It’s beyond even a sociopath, because he’s not even human. He’s not even a clown. I’m playing just one of the beings It creates. It’s important that we do something fresh and original for this one.”

As for why they’ve gone for this look rather than the more “modern” clown appearance inspired by Heath Ledger’s Joker, he said: “It’s purposely not going toward that weird, greasy look. It truly enjoys the shape of the clown Pennywise, and enjoys the game and the hunt. What’s funny to this evil entity might not be funny to everyone else. But he thinks it’s funny.”

It is expected to be released next September, and should it be a success, we’ll get a sequel which adapts the second half of King’s novel as the kids return home to deal with Pennywise as adults. Fukunaga actually penned the screenplay for both instalments of the adaptation.

Pennywise IT