Stephen King Admits He Will Not Continue One of His Most Talked About Books
While fans of the HBO series IT: Welcome to Derry are clearly craving more of the shape-shifting nightmare, they shouldn’t look to Stephen King for new chapters of the story.
The legendary author, who recently celebrated his 78th birthday, made his feelings quite clear during a fan Q&A session. He admitted that he doesn’t believe he has the stamina to return to that particular monster, noting that the thought of Pennywise is frightening even to the man who created him.
King’s original 1986 masterpiece centered on a group of seven children who were hunted by an ancient evil that transformed into their darkest fears. Over the decades, the story has seen multiple lives on screen, beginning with the iconic 1990 miniseries starring Tim Curry as the painted predator.
More recently, the franchise saw a massive resurgence with a two-part film adaptation where Bill Skarsgård stepped into the oversized shoes of the killer clown. The first film in that duo shattered records, eventually becoming the most successful horror movie in cinematic history.
Expanding the lore further, the HBO prequel series IT: Welcome to Derry takes viewers back 27 years before the events of the films. The show dives deep into the horrific origins of the town’s curse and concluded its intense eight-episode first season on December 14, 2025.
Even the man who first brought the clown to life has his own complicated history with the character. In his 2025 autobiography, Vagabond, Tim Curry addressed long-standing rumors about his personal feelings toward clowns.
Curry clarified that while he didn’t necessarily enjoy looking at his own reflection in the heavy makeup, it wasn’t a paralyzing phobia as some tabloids claimed. He wrote that the prospect of playing such a monster made him feel quite uneasy, yet he felt a pull to challenge those internal contradictions by accepting the role.
Since his iconic run as Pennywise, Tim Curry has remained a beloved figure in the industry despite facing health challenges after a stroke in 2012. He has largely focused on voice acting and making special appearances at fan events, such as a major retrospective in San Francisco in early 2025.
His memoir, Vagabond, was released in late 2025 to celebrate both the 50th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the 40th anniversary of the cult classic Clue. The book offers a rare look at his career and his resilience in the face of physical adversity.
Meanwhile, Bill Skarsgård continues to be one of the busiest actors in Hollywood after reprising his role as Pennywise for the prequel series. Looking ahead into 2026, Skarsgård is set to appear in the highly anticipated film The Death of Robin Hood, where he will play Little John alongside Hugh Jackman.
He also recently completed work on the thriller Dead Man’s Wire and is slated for a role in The Mosquito Bowl. The actor’s ability to transition from terrifying monsters to historical dramas has cemented his place as a versatile leading man for the modern era.
The television series itself features a strong ensemble cast including Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, and James Remar. Under the guidance of executive producer Andy Muschietti, the series has successfully bridged the gap between King’s original prose and the cinematic universe fans have come to love.
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