Pennywise’s Death In IT: Welcome to Derry Explained by Creator

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Be warned, this contains spoilers for the season 1 finale of Welcome to Derry! In the ending of Welcome to Derry season 1, Pennywise appears to be defeated once again, but in a way that’s different from previous versions of the Stephen King story. The HBO series showed Pennywise bringing his terror to Derry in 1962. The new group of young heroes managed to keep him contained, causing him to dissolve and return to hibernation after almost breaking free.

Barbara Muschietti explained to ScreenRant that they altered Pennywise’s death for the season one finale of IT: Welcome to Derry. Instead of crumbling like in the first film and appearing deflated in Chapter Two, Pennywise dissolved into an ink-like substance, shifting through his various forms before becoming pure Deadlights.

According to co-creator Barbara Muschietti, the decision to change Pennywise’s appearance stemmed from her brother, Andy Muschietti, who directed the first two IT movies. She explained that they always strive to offer something new with each iteration. They specifically wanted to move away from the visual elements of the previous films – the distorted face from the second movie and the cracks and floating effect from the first – and instead focus on what makes Pennywise uniquely terrifying.

It’s unclear if the characters will visually experience or understand his brief disappearance. Perhaps he simply remains where he was, and decades pass. That’s the beauty of the story – the nature of the ‘deadlight’ is open to interpretation; it can mean anything we imagine.

Muschietti explained that her brother has been creating art since he was a toddler, and he brings that same creativity to his filmmaking. She described him as having a strong visual imagination and a constant desire to learn, praising his ability to bring those visions to life. This makes collaboration with the VFX team, special effects artists, and production designer much smoother, as everyone understands his clear artistic goals.

Everyone understands the overall plan, but Muschietti explains that both the production team and Andy Muschietti himself need to be patient. Andy is a perfectionist and meticulously reviews every detail, ensuring nothing is overlooked. This often meant they delivered material for IT: Welcome to Derry right at the last minute to the other teams involved.

As director Andy Muschietti has noted, the way Pennywise ‘dies’ has changed throughout the history of IT, starting with Stephen King’s original novel. In the first part of the book, Pennywise is hurt by a silver projectile from a slingshot, leaving him with a scarred face. Later, when the Losers’ Club confronts him as adults, they manage to defeat him by collectively attacking and tearing apart his spider-like body.

As mentioned before, the way Pennywise dies in the IT films is more visually complex. However, according to the book’s co-creator, the ending in Welcome to Derry is actually more fitting for the character, considering his dramatic nature and ability to change forms. By making his death a more shocking spectacle, he might be trying to trick people into thinking he’s truly gone.

Okay, so after watching the finale of IT: Welcome to Derry Season 1, I’m already wondering how the Muschiettis are going to handle Pennywise’s death in the future seasons. They apparently have a whole three-season plan laid out – seasons two and three are supposed to go back to 1935 and 1908 – and since we already saw some of Pennywise’s older forms in season one, I’m really curious to see how that might change how they show him being defeated. It’ll be interesting to see a different take on his final moments, considering what they’ve already hinted at!

Be sure to dive into our other IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 coverage with:

  • How the reveal of Pennywise and Bob Gray’s true origins created 4 new mysteries for IT: Welcome to Derry
  • The show’s expansion of Bob Gray’s backstory after IT: Chapter Two‘s initial change
  • Jason Fuchs on Sophia Lillis’ surprise return as Beverly in the IT: Welcome to Derry ending and what it means for the future
  • Jason Fuchs explaining the ending’s surprise Richie Tozier reveal and how the character is tied to the season’s biggest death
  • Barbara Muschietti on the unique origin behind IT: Welcome to Derry exploring Pennywise’s time-shifting mindset
  • Jason Fuchs on how Dick Halorann’s ending in the series sets up his Shining future
  • Jason Fuchs on Pennywise’s “birth” scene in Welcome to Derry‘s ending and its impact on the IT franchise
  • Jason Fuchs on whether any other Welcome to Derry season 1 characters can return in future seasons

All eight episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 are available to stream on HBO Max.

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2025-12-18 04:19