Unveiling the Chilling Backstory of Pennywise: The 'It' Deleted Scene You Didn't See

Article Summary

Director Andy Muschietti understood the true terror in Stephen King's It, going beyond Pennywise the Clown to capture the essence of childhood trauma and individual fears.

The two It films were given extended editions because of the depth of King's original text, which explores the history of Derry and its concealed dangers.

Although Pennywise's backstory scene was removed, the choice to maintain its enigmatic nature enhances the character's horrifying aura, and the deleted scenes on the Blu-Ray versions offer extra captivating moments.

While the 1980s miniseries starring Tim Curry may have haunted a whole generation of young viewers, the current comedic television adaptation is far less frightening than director Andy Muschietti's two-part adaptation of Stephen King's chilling novel, It. Muschietti understood that the true horror of It lies not only in the physical threat posed by Pennywise the Clown (Bill Skarsgård), but also in the deeper symbolism behind his character. Pennywise embodies the essence of childhood trauma, transforming into various terrifying forms to individually prey upon the fears of each member of the Losers' Club. Unlike the Stranger Things franchise, which employs a similar nostalgic 1980s coming-of-age vibe, these films remain faithful to King's original story, never diluting its impact. In fact, Muschietti even shot a sequence for the series that was so disturbing it has never been released in the extended cut.

It

Seven young outcasts in Derry, Maine, will confront their greatest fear as an ancient, shape-shifting evil emerges from the sewer every 27 years to hunt down the town's children. Coming together during a terrifying summer, these friends must conquer their individual fears in order to fight against Pennywise, the bloodthirsty clown responsible for the murders.

Release Date: September 6, 2017

Director: Andres Muschietti

Cast: Bill Skarsgard, Finn Wolfhard, Jaeden Martell, Javier Botet, Sophia Lillis, Owen Teague

Runtime: 135 minutes

The ‘It’ Extended Editions Were Even Longer

While it may have initially seemed strange to have two film adaptations for a novel about a sinister clown, it actually makes sense given the extensive content of King's original text. King's works are typically shorter and more intense, but in the case of It, there is a greater emphasis on providing intricate details about the town of Derry and the menacing dangers hidden beneath its surface. Horror enthusiasts looking for a fast-paced thriller about a deranged clown terrorizing a group of children will find themselves having to navigate through a significant amount of exposition delving into the historical development of a corrupted town and its long-standing history of violence. With a word count of over 437,000, It stands as King's lengthiest novel to date and holds significant relevance within the broader universe of interconnected novels and short stories that comprise his literary canon.

Even in the extended editions of two films, Muschietti couldn't capture every event from the original text. Some cuts and changes were necessary, especially in It: Chapter Two, which had a different ending that many fans preferred. Scenes not included in the theatrical cut were saved for the Blu-Ray's behind-the-scenes features, but one sequence inspired by the original text remains unseen by fans. While little is known about Pennywise's origins, the original intention was to show a younger version of the character before he wore his iconic makeup.

Despite its long runtime, the length of It didn't affect its success. The film earned over $700 million at the global box office, making it the highest-grossing horror film and King adaptation to date. Adjusted for inflation, It is closely ranked with horror classics like Jaws and The Exorcist.

This ‘It’ Deleted Scene Showed Pennywise’s Backstory

Image via Warner Bros. 

Skarsgård had mentioned that a scene was filmed involving a youthful Pennywise in the 17th century. He described Pennywise as a shape-shifting entity that has taken the form of a clown, and suggested that it had been inactive for thousands of years. Skarsgård believed that Pennywise existed in another dimension and had the ability to move between spaces. The inclusion of an origin scene would have confirmed Skarsgård's understanding of the character.

The early version of the script by Palmer and Fukunaga hinted at disturbing moments that could have been included in this scene. In one sequence set in 1637, Pennywise appears before a frightened teenage mother and consumes her baby. While Muschietti's adaptation of It included some graphic scenes for an R-rated film, the idea of "baby eating" may have been seen as crossing a line by Warner Bros. At a certain point, there is a level of horror that becomes inappropriate.

Although some of these brutal moments were removed in the final cut of the film, Skargard's excellent performance still resulted in a horrifying end result. Skarsgård had to fight hard for the role of Pennywise, with Mark Rylance, Will Poulter, and Ben Mendelsohn all being considered before him. Choosing Skarsgård was a risk due to his relative unknown status during the production of It. However, it turned out to be a showcase of Skarsgård's talents, proving that he was always prepared to portray a captivating villain or horror film character. Recently, Skarsgård appeared in the cult horror film Barbarian and portrayed the main antagonist in John Wick: Chapter 4.

Why Was Pennywise’s Origin Story Cut?

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Muschietti believed that explaining the reasons behind Pennywise's choice to assume the form of this specific clown would have taken away the enigmatic quality of the character. He acknowledged that a similar event occurs in the novel, but he wanted to preserve the audience's curiosity about Pennywise's origin. Muschietti preferred to embrace the cryptic nature of King's storytelling, as it adds to the allure and mystery surrounding Pennywise. However, he did mention the possibility of including a scene revealing Pennywise's origin in a potential extended edition that combines both It films. Additionally, he expressed interest in incorporating other deleted moments, such as a cameo by the Maturin turtle, a significant character in the larger King universe.

Muschietti’s explanation is logical. Although some fans may prefer a more straightforward explanation of Pennywise's true nature and specific abilities, Muschietti and Skarsgård both view his presence as a detachment from reality. Pennywise symbolizes a metaphorical embodiment of evil that the Losers' Club must conquer. As each child matures and grapples with their childhood fears, Pennywise gradually loses power. One of the most impactful scenes in the first It movie is when Bill (Jaeden Martell) fearlessly proclaims his lack of fear towards the malevolent clown. In many ways, the older Bill (James McAvoy) and his companions are able to rescue Derry by addressing its underlying problems, which Pennywise symbolizes.

Pennywise’s Origin Wasn’t the Only ‘It’ Scene That Was Cut

While fans may be disappointed by the unreleased footage from the cutting room floor of It, the Blu-Ray releases of both films offer intriguing moments. Deleted scenes include an extended bar mitzvah speech by Stanley Uris (Wyatt Oleff), a more developed backstory for Mike (Chosen Jacobs), and a longer version of adult Beverley's (Jessica Chastain) encounter with Mrs. Kersh (Joan Gregson), the elderly woman. Perhaps it is better that the enigmatic flashback sequence remains hidden, much like Pennywise himself.

There is value in withholding a concrete explanation of a horror character's background, as revealing their origins may diminish their terrifying presence. The idea of a prequel to A Nightmare on Elm Street that delves into Freddy Krueger's backstory was abandoned because it would have made him less frightening. Likewise, horror prequels such as 2011's The Thing, Hannibal Rising, Exorcist: The Beginning, Leprechaun: Origins, Alien: Covenant, and The Nun have overly complex backstories for their iconic killers that only serve to convolute the mythology. Truly good horror prequel stories are rare.

Although It: Chapter Two brought the main series to a close, fans of King's work can still look forward to revisiting Derry. Welcome to Derry, an upcoming Max original series, will explore the mysterious town's hidden history in the 1960s and showcase a range of King's iconic characters. While Skarsgård's participation has yet to be confirmed, it would be unexpected if the horrifying dancing clown did not make an appearance in this prequel series.

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Editor's P/S

In the realm of horror cinema, Stephen King's It stands as a terrifying masterpiece, captivating audiences with its exploration of childhood trauma and the malevolent entity known as Pennywise the Clown. Director Andy Muschietti's two-part adaptation delves into the depths of King's expansive novel, capturing the essence of the story while also introducing new elements that enhance the horror.

One intriguing aspect of the It films is the backstory of Pennywise, which is only briefly touched upon in the theatrical cuts. However, a deleted scene that was never released offers a glimpse into the character's chilling origins. This scene, which reportedly depicts a younger version of Pennywise before he became the iconic clown, would have added an extra layer of depth and complexity to the character. It's a shame that this scene was ultimately cut from the film, as it would have provided fans with a deeper understanding of Pennywise's motivations and transformation into the evil entity that haunts Derry.