Why Bill Skarsgård Was Kept from IT: Welcome to Derry Cast Until Episode 5

The production of the upcoming HBO Max series IT: Welcome to Derry has involved a specific strategy regarding its central star. Director Andy Muschietti has explained the deliberate decision to limit actor Bill Skarsgård’s early presence on set during the filming of the IT prequel series.

Main News

Bill Skarsgård, who portrayed the entity Pennywise in the recent *IT* films, is returning for the HBO Max prequel series, *IT: Welcome to Derry*.

Director and executive producer Andy Muschietti revealed that Skarsgård was not present for the filming of the series’ first four episodes. The actor was reportedly kept away from the main cast until production began on the fifth episode.

Muschietti stated this approach was a creative choice to build a sense of mystery and anticipation. The goal was to preserve the frightening impact of Pennywise for the younger cast members playing the show’s central characters.

Summary

The creative team behind *IT: Welcome to Derry* intentionally limited Bill Skarsgård’s early involvement in the production. He did not film or interact with the main young cast during the first four episodes.

This decision was directed by Andy Muschietti, who sought to maintain the menacing aura of the Pennywise character. The strategy was designed to ensure the younger actors’ reactions to the iconic villain would feel genuine and unaffected by prior familiarity with Skarsgård.

Skarsgård joined the production to film his scenes beginning with the series’ fifth episode. The prequel series is set to explore the origins of Pennywise and the town of Derry in the 1960s.

FAQs

**Why wasn’t Bill Skarsgård on set for the first episodes?**
Director Andy Muschietti kept him away to preserve the mystery and frightening presence of the Pennywise character. This was done so the younger actors’ fear would feel more authentic when they finally encountered him.

When did Bill Skarsgård film his scenes?
Skarsgård joined the production to begin filming his role starting with episode five of the series. His involvement was scheduled after the main cast had completed work on the initial block of episodes.

What is IT: Welcome to Derry about?
It is an HBO Max prequel series to the IT films, set in the 1960s. The story will explore the origins of the entity Pennywise and the haunted history of Derry, Maine.