Bill Skarsgård, Stephen King, Bill Skarsgård Pennywise time travel [Image Source: WZZM13]
Bill Skarsgård, the actor portraying Pennywise in the Stephen King horror universe, shared his interpretation of the sinister clown’s unusual relationship with time in the spin-off series It: Welcome to Derry. The revelations about Pennywise’s ability to move through time were aired following the conclusion of the show’s first season, shedding new light on the character’s nature and motivations.
The story unfolds 27 years after the original It movie and 54 years before It: Chapter Two, yet Pennywise already seems aware of events that occurred in both 1989 and 2016, despite the series’ current setting in 1962. This time dislocation is driven by Pennywise’s goal to target children who would grow up to form the Losers Club, whose existence threatens the creature’s longevity. This suggests that Pennywise’s experience of time does not align with traditional linear progression, raising questions about whether time follows a different path for the supernatural entity.
Actor Discusses the Abstract Nature of Pennywise’s Time Perception
Skarsgård elaborated on the complexities of playing a character who seems to exist beyond normal dimensions, touching on Pennywise’s ability to navigate time in ways that defy human understanding. He remarked,
“I thought that was an interesting thing that the character is kind of going in two different directions,”
in a 2025 interview circulating on social media. He further questioned,
Image of: Bill Skarsgård
“But what’s time to something that is not part of this dimension?”
This perspective implies that Pennywise might be either trapped in a continuous temporal loop or capable of moving effortlessly across different time periods. The clown’s detachment from the linear flow of time makes its actions and timeline extremely difficult to follow from a human standpoint.
Connections to Stephen King’s Cosmic Mythology and Multilayered Timeline
Skarsgård pointed to the wider cosmic mythology in King’s works to contextualize Pennywise’s time-related abilities. The entity known as Maturin, a cosmic turtle described in several King novels, is Pennywise’s ancient adversary and originates from a realm beyond time itself. Skarsgård described this as,
“It’s so abstract this transdimensional evil being thing with a spider and a turtle or whatever. It is really out there. From reading the book, you can interpret it a thousand different ways,”
Despite the storylines in the It series exploring time travel, King never fully clarifies how time functions for these characters. According to Skarsgård,
“I’m pretty sure Stephen King doesn’t really know,”
highlighting the enigmatic nature of the narrative.
Exploring Pennywise’s Temporal Origin and Narrative Purpose
If Pennywise shares origins with Maturin, it likely explains why the villain is not subject to normal temporal rules, which may reflect his existence in an otherworldly dimension. Although the chronology can be confusing, Skarsgård advises audiences not to focus too heavily on the mechanics of time travel within the series. He explained,
“It’s kind of this little bookend thing how we ended it,”
and emphasized,
“I’m not quite sure where we’re going with it, but there’s something fun to explore that Pennywise might be going backwards, but it’s forwards for him just as it is for the audience who are.”
Future Seasons Will Further Explore Pennywise’s Timeline
The creator of the series and director Andy Muschietti plan to continue delving into Pennywise’s complex timeline through upcoming seasons. The showrunner confirmed there will be two more seasons of It: Welcome to Derry, with season two diving back to the year 1935 and season three further reaching back to 1908. This backward movement in storytelling emphasizes the fractured and fluid nature of time as experienced by Pennywise.
Currently, season one is available for streaming on HBO in the United States as well as on Now in the United Kingdom. Fans interested in uncovering additional layers to the narrative can also explore guides to the many Easter eggs and cameos featured throughout the series, further connecting the spin-off to Stephen King’s larger universe.
Significance of Pennywise’s Timeless Nature in the Story
Pennywise’s non-linear experience of time highlights the character’s profound alienness and menace, setting the stage for unnerving and unpredictable story arcs. This temporal elasticity not only deepens the mystery surrounding the evil clown but also allows the creators to explore narrative possibilities that challenge traditional storytelling conventions. As the series progresses, viewers can expect to see how these time shifts impact both the villain’s pursuit and the formation of the iconic Losers Club, making time travel a crucial element to the horror spin-off’s unfolding drama.
