Pennywise the Clown Appeared in One Other Stephen King Novel After IT

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As a devoted Stephen King enthusiast with over three decades of immersing myself in his chilling universe, I must say that the subtle yet significant appearance of Pennywise in “11/22/63” is nothing short of thrilling. It’s like an Easter egg hunt for horror fans, where we stumble upon these intricate connections between King’s novels, each one more chilling than the last.

Over the years, Stephen King’s “It” has established itself as a timeless horror masterpiece, leaving its mark across numerous pop culture platforms, from television to cinema. It’s rare to find someone who hasn’t heard of Pennywise the clown, the terrifying figure that haunts the townsfolk of Derry, Maine. As we gear up for the 2025 release of the prequel “Welcome to Derry” on Max, let’s revisit a moment when Pennywise appeared in another King novel – “11/22/63”.

It’s quite common to discover Easter eggs and nods to King’s previous works in his latest novels; he often treats readers to such secrets. For instance, in the story of ‘It’, the Losers’ Club ultimately vanquished Pennywise using The Ritual of Chüd, and later shattered its heart into fragments.

As a devoted fan, I must confess that the fate of Pennywise is not straightforward. Although his physical self was vanquished, it belongs to a unique breed known as the Deadlights. This suggests that, while the bond between Derry and him was broken, the entity persists in another realm of existence. It’s plausible that “Pennywise” has made appearances in Stephen King’s other works, like in “Dreamcatcher”, published in 2001.

11/23/63 sees Stephen King lead readers on an exhilarating journey alongside Jake Epping, our protagonist, as he journeys to Derry. Epping is a dedicated high school English teacher who, upon the suggestion of his long-time friend Al Templeton, steps through the Rabbit Hole portal, transporting him back to a time when President John F. Kennedy was tragically assassinated.

Pennywise’s 11/22/63 Cameo

In the live-action adaptation featuring James Franco as Epping, there was no delving into the connection between his character and Pennywise. This was due to copyright issues and complex legal matters that made such exploration impossible. While in Derry, Epping is tasked with preventing a student’s father from murdering his family. However, prior to this event, Eppings seems friendly and mentally sound towards Jake, suggesting that Pennywise’s mind control may have influenced a significant plot point in the story “11/22/63.

[RELATED: Netflix’s Best Stephen King Movie Was Described as “Unfilmable” for Decades]

In the book, King describes how Pennywise is noticeably weakened rather than dead. He shares an additional detail: there was something discovered at the collapsed chimney of Kitchener Ironworks, something he doesn’t fully understand but saw a pile of gnawed bones and a small, chewed collar with a bell on it. This collar had once adorned a cherished pet cat, suggesting that some child’s beloved kitten met its end there. Strangely, something moved and scuffled within the pipe deep inside the chimney.

As Pennywise attempts to delve into Epping’s mind by discussing another gateway, he manages to slip away before causing any significant harm. “I’m not sure about that other portal. I think it was Derry instead – all the horrors, the twisted parts, lurking within that pipe. Sleeping. Biding its time, letting people believe the bad times were gone, waiting for them to grow complacent and forget there had ever been any bad times at all.

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2024-11-16 18:12