Home / Arts and Entertainment / King Won't Return to Pennywise's World
King Won't Return to Pennywise's World
29 Jan
Summary
- Stephen King has no plans to write more IT stories.
- He finds the character of Pennywise too frightening.
- A new HBO series explores Pennywise's origins.
Stephen King has stated he will not write any more stories set in the world of IT. The acclaimed author, now 78, expressed in a 2013 Reddit AMA that he found the character of Pennywise too frightening to revisit. King's original 1986 novel detailed the terror inflicted by an evil entity on seven children, exploiting their deepest fears.
The terrifying tale has seen multiple adaptations, including a 1990 miniseries and highly successful films in 2017 and 2019. The 2017 adaptation achieved the status of the highest-grossing horror film ever. Most recently, the HBO series 'IT: Welcome to Derry' premiered, serving as a prequel that delves into the origins of Pennywise.
Tim Curry, who famously portrayed Pennywise in the 1990 miniseries, confirmed in his 2025 memoir, 'Vagabond,' that he harbored a fear of clowns, which made taking on the role a challenging yet compelling prospect. The new HBO series, which concluded its first season on December 14, 2026, continues to explore the terrifying universe King created.
