Skip to main content
  • TotalFilm
  • Edge
  • Newsarama
  • Retrogamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream
Horror Movies Scream 7 director crushes the fan theory that Stu Macher is alive and will return in Scream 8: "That's a big stretch"
Cillian Murphy as Tommy in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.
Movies The 25 best movies on Netflix to watch right now
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 review: "Never as sharp as the series' best, but still has a few neat tricks up its billowing sleeve"
Alan Ritchson in War Machine
Sci-Fi Movies War Machine star Alan Ritchson says the film's most dangerous stunt was "pretty terrifying," as he ziplined over rapids
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream 1996
Horror Movies Scream 7 baits fans into thinking an underrated horror icon was finally getting his due – and I'm not happy about it
Jacob Elordi as the Creature in Frankenstein
Horror Movies The 25 best Netflix horror movies to watch right now
The first trailer for Markiplier's Iron Lung adaptation is here
Horror Movies Markiplier ditched Iron Lung VFX company over budget and turned his bathroom into "render farm" with servers from eBay
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream 1996
Horror Movies Scream fans are confused over Stu Macher's return to the franchise in Scream 7: "It’s still up in the air as always"
It: Chapter Two
Horror Movies It: Chapter Two star reteaming with his Barry collaborator for new original horror about a divorced dad
Morfydd Clark as Katie floating in the air during the horror movie, Saint Maud.
Amazon Prime Video The 10 best Prime Video horror movies to watch right now
Nathan Gamble as Billy, Laurie Holden as Amanda, Jeffrey DeMunn as Dan, and Thomas Jane as David in Frank Darabont's The Mist
Horror Movies Upcoming Stephen King movies and TV shows in 2026 and beyond
Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven in Stranger Things season 5 volume 2
Sci-Fi Shows Stranger Things season 5 reviews, cast, plot, and everything else you need to know about the final season of the Netflix show
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream 1996
Horror Movies New Scream 7 trailer shown in theaters calls back to the original and gives us our first look at Matthew Lillard's return
It: Welcome to Derry
Horror Shows It: Welcome to Derry episode 8 explained – Who dies? How does it connect to The Shining?
Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in It: Welcome to Derry
Horror Shows It: Welcome to Derry Easter eggs and cameos: All the Stephen King and wider franchise references you might have missed
  1. Entertainment
  2. TV
  3. Horror Shows
  4. It: Welcome to Derry

New It: Welcome to Derry behind-the-scenes clip proves Bill Skarsgård is terrifying as Pennywise with or without VFX

News
By Lauren Milici published 17 December 2025

He just kind of looks like that

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise in the It: Welcome to Derry finale
(Image credit: HBO)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

A new behind-the-scenes clip from It: Welcome to Derry episode 8 has arrived, and it proves that Bill Skarsgård doesn't need any CGI to be completely and totally terrifying as Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

The brief clip, which can be viewed below, shows us a pre-VFX and a post-VFX version of the season finale when Lilly, Will, Marge, and Ronnie are struggling to place the cosmic dagger back into the ground in order to send Pennywise back to sleep for another 27 years. In the top clip, Skarsgård is screaming into the camera with just his Pennywise makeup on - and it's somehow scarier (to me, anyway) than the bottom clip that edits in a darker sky, swirling snow, and those piercing yellow eyes.

Oh, and that voice is also real. If you're a Stranger Things fan, you might be aware that while Jamie Campbell Bower plays Vecna and does his voice, the voice is then edited in post to sound just a little bit deep and a little more menacing. Skarsgård, however, is able to just kind of...sound like that. Not to mention the fact that, aside from the SFX-applied enlarged head and hair, those creepy facial expressions are also just...Bill's face. No edits needed there, either.

You may like
  • Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in It: Welcome to Derry It: Welcome to Derry behind the scenes clip shows Pennywise star Bill Skarsgård filming that spine-chilling cliffhanger
  • Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise in the It: Welcome to Derry finale Bill Skarsgård explains why he was "hesitant" about reprising the role of Pennywise in It: Welcome to Derry
  • Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise in the It: Welcome to Derry finale It: Welcome to Derry star Bill Skarsgård explains Pennywise's very confusng ability to time travel

Chilling. Stream all episodes of #ITWelcomeToDerry now on HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/xnt0rhQn66December 17, 2025

Though It: Welcome to Derry season 1 has come to a close, Andy Muschietti has plans for two more seasons of the hit prequel series, and that means at least 16 more episodes of Pennywise doing his little dance-y dance while eating children and preying on their deepest darkest fears. Woohoo!

All episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry are now streaming on HBO Max in the US and NOW in the UK. For more on what to watch, check out our guide to the best new TV shows on the way in 2026.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
HBO Streaming Services
Lauren Milici
Lauren Milici
Social Links Navigation
Senior Entertainment Writer

Lauren Milici is a Senior Entertainment Writer for GamesRadar+ based in New York City. She previously reported on breaking news for The Independent's Indy100 and created TV and film listicles for Ranker. Her work has been published in Fandom, Nerdist, Paste Magazine, Vulture, PopSugar, Fangoria, and more.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in It: Welcome to Derry
It: Welcome to Derry behind the scenes clip shows Pennywise star Bill Skarsgård filming that spine-chilling cliffhanger
 
 
Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise in the It: Welcome to Derry finale
Bill Skarsgård explains why he was "hesitant" about reprising the role of Pennywise in It: Welcome to Derry
 
 
Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise in the It: Welcome to Derry finale
It: Welcome to Derry star Bill Skarsgård explains Pennywise's very confusng ability to time travel
 
 
Amanda Christine as Ronnie in It: Welcome to Derry episode 7
It: Welcome to Derry features the scariest scene of the year, and Pennywise is only part of the horrors
 
 
It: Welcome to Derry
It: Welcome to Derry showrunner says that surprise movie cameo was a "very, very last-minute" decision
 
 
Matilda Lawler, Clara Stack, Blake Cameron James, and Amanda Christine as Marge, Lilly, Will, and Ronnie in the It: Welcome to Derry finale
IT: Welcome to Derry episode 8 ends with a clever twist that sets up season 2 and fixes my biggest prequel frustration
 
 
Latest in Horror Shows
The Walking Dead
A Walking Dead revival series reuniting Rick, Michonne, Daryl, and Carol has been in discussion for a "couple years"
 
 
Sophie Thatcher as Natalie in Yellowjackets season 3, looking desperate as she calls for help with a satellite phone
Yellowjackets enters production on its final season with a cannibalistic teaser that hints at long-awaited answers
 
 
Cover of Universal Monsters Classics Collection featuring portraits of Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Phantom of the Opera, and the Creature From the Black Lagoon
Scream 7 director is bringing the Universal monsters to Netflix in a show that's described as an "adult Vampire Diaries"
 
 
talk to me
New immersive 3D series based on A24's Talk to Me casts Rebel Moon, Ted Lasso, and Ozark stars
 
 
Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully and David Duchovny as Fox Mulder in The X-Files.
After 218 episodes I thought I was done with The X-Files – but Ryan Coogler's revival has dragged me back in
 
 
Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead
Before The Walking Dead sold 45 million copies, author Robert Kirkman was told "zombie books don't sell"
 
 
Latest in News
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 support agent says "there's no balance team" at Arrowhead because "it's all a team effort"
 
 
Ghostwire Tokyo
Resident Evil director Shinji Mikami has been working on a new AAA action RPG for at least 1 year, and no one noticed
 
 
Key art for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen showing Venasaur against a swirling green background, cropped for a header image
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen have been on Switch for over a week, but many players are still stuck in Oak's Lab
 
 
Big Walk
"Complicated feelings on our end": Indie devs behind new Peak-like co-op understand you think it's friendslop
 
 
A Na'vi draws a bow in Avatar: Fire and Ash
James Cameron says Avatar 4 is still "very likely", despite Fire and Ash making $870 million less than The Way of Water
 
 
Ghost of Yotei Legends
"Mark my words. You cannot win without 4 players," Ghost of Yotei multiplayer lead warns of Legends' "hardcore content"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Ghostwire Tokyo
    1
    Resident Evil director Shinji Mikami has been working on a new AAA action RPG for at least 1 year after Microsoft closed his last studio, and no one noticed
  2. 2
    How to complete the Marathon Introducing Sekiguchi contract
  3. 3
    How to start Ghost of Yotei Legends online co-op
  4. 4
    Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen have been on Switch for over a week, but many players are still stuck in Oak's Lab trying to get shiny starters: "I'm going to cry"
  5. 5
    James Cameron says Avatar 4 is still "very likely", despite Fire and Ash making almost a billion dollars less than The Way of Water

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...