Moviefone Editorial

Tag: pennywise

  • Alamo Drafthouse Is Hosting an All-Clown ‘It’ Screening, in Case You Want Nightmares Forever

    Are you planning on checking out Stephen King adaptation “It” this weekend, and aren’t satisfied with the prospect of only seeing a scary clown on the big screen? Well, one Alamo Drafthouse theater in Texas is here to make your dreams/nightmares come true.

    The Mueller location of the theater chain is offering a “clown screening” of the horror flick on Saturday, inviting attendees to don their best Pennywise cosplay to get in. The theater is going all-out with the theme, too, staging a pre-party before the showing featuring “face-painters available for clown ‘touch-ups’, a photo booth, raffles for prizes, and other terrifying merriment.” If that latter oxymoron sounds appealing to you, you should hop on the next flight to Austin.

    As film critic Siddhant Adlakha pointed out on Twitter, the inspiration for this insanely creepy idea may have actually come from a troll who complained about the chain’s women-only screening of “Wonder Woman” back in May. Regardless of its origins, it’s a pretty genius bit of marketing for the Drafthouse — the buzzy film is already projected to do some big business on its opening weekend, and now, fans can also indulge their creative/creepy sides while enjoying the long-awaited flick.

    “It” opens on Friday.

    [via: Alamo Drafthouse]

  • ‘It’ Movie: Pennywise Plays Peekaboo in Creepy Sewer Photo

    Don’t go thinking the worst will be over when 2016 ends — terrors await in 2017, especially in the sewer. “It,” based on Stephen King’s nightmare-inducing novel, will creep its way into theaters in September.

    Entertainment Weekly recently shared a new photo of actor Bill Skarsgard in full costume as Pennywise:

    IT (2017)BILL SKARSGÅRD as Pennywise
    That is a face even a mother might not love.

    Andrés Muschietti is directing the 2017 film, and he previewed Pennywise’s “act” to EW: “Pennywise shows up, he’s front and center, and he does his show. He has an act. So it’s weird all the time, and every little thing implies a further threat.”

    Over the summer, Skarsgard teased that “It” is “such an extreme character. Inhumane. It’s beyond even a sociopath, because he’s not even human. He’s not even a clown. I’m playing just one of the beings It creates.” EW reported, back in July, that this “It” movie would only adapt part of King’s 1986 novel, following the main characters when they were kids. “A sequel, in which they come home again to battle It a second time as adults, is planned if this first installment is a success.”

    “It” is scheduled for release on September 8, 2017.

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  • ‘It’ Movie Wraps Production With Creepy Pennywise Photo

    It’s been a long and winding road for the upcoming big screen adaptation of Stephen King’s horror classic “It,” but at long last, the flick has finally finished production. To celebrate, naturally, filmmakers couldn’t help but share another super creepy image featuring everyone’s favorite demented clown, Pennywise.

    Screenwriter and producer Barbara Muschietti — the sister of director Andres Muschietti, and a producer on “It” — revealed that the production has wrapped with a post on Instagram, thanking the cast and crew for their hard work, and adding a special shout-out to King “for giving us this tale.” Muschietti also took the opportunity to share a snap featuring what looks like a jack in the box version of Pennywise, and it’s just as horrifying as you’d imagine such a demented toy to be.

    That shudder-inducing image is in keeping with what we’ve seen of Pennywise so far, though, so at least we know that filmmakers are consistent with their vision for the iconic character, played in this new version by actor Bill Skarsgard. It remains to be seen whether or not this creepy toy will pop up in the flick, but it will almost certainly be popping up in our nightmares later.

    As mentioned above, the journey to the big screen has been an arduous one for “It,” with disagreements over budget, a departing director, a delayed release date, and the loss of a key actor all plaguing the production. But now that filming has officially wrapped, it looks like it’s smooth sailing here on out for the horror flick.

    “It” will be split into two parts, with the first set to hit theaters on September 8, 2017.

    [via: Barbara Muschietti]

    Photo credit: Warner Bros.

  • Here’s the Full, Terrifying Pennywise Costume From ‘It’

    pennywise, it, bill skarsgardAfter previewing the sinister-looking new Pennywise from the upcoming big screen adaptation of Stephen King horror classic “It,” studio Warner Bros. has now given fans the full view of what the evil clown will look like in the flick. And it’s safe to say you may have some trouble sleeping tonight.

    Entertainment Weekly debuted the new image, which zooms out on the character (played in this new adaptation by actor Bill Skarsgard) to give fans a glimpse of Pennywise’s entire imposing figure. His costume is both more outlandish and more somber than his predecessor’s (played in a 1990 TV miniseries by Tim Curry), and every little detail has a specific purpose and meaning.
    pennywise, it, bill skarsgardCostume designer Janie Bryant (the Emmy-winning genius behind the perfect period outfits on “Mad Men”) told EW that each element of the costume was meant to evoke both a specific historical period — influences include the Medieval, Renaissance, Elizabethan, and Victorian eras — while also possessing a timeless quality. Pennywise is an immortal, shape-shifting creature who just happens to take the form of a clown, and that’s reflected in this look, according to Bryant.

    “The costume definitely incorporates all these otherworldly past lives, if you will,” the designer told EW. “He is definitely a clown from a different time.”

    As EW notes, “Every part of the costume is meant to suggest something both ancient and disturbed,” and that’s apparent from the image. The site continues:

    While this isn’t the bright and cheery Pennywise, Bryant’s version of the character prefers to camouflage himself and strike rather than lure children with lively plumage.

    “It makes him almost like a shadow,” she says.

    For much more from Bryant, check out the full interview over at Entertainment Weekly. And prepare to have the crap scared out of you when “It” hits theaters on September 8, 2017.

    [via: Entertainment Weekly]

    Photo credit: Warner Bros. via Entertainment Weekly

  • Tim Curry to the ‘It’ Remake’s Pennywise: ‘Good Luck’

    Tim Curry at The Actors Fund's 19th Annual Tony Awards Viewing Party - ShowCongrats to Tim Curry, who made a rare public appearance Sunday night in Los Angeles to accept an award. It was one of the first times the beloved “Rocky Horror Picture Show” star has been in the public eye since a 2012 stroke left him in a wheelchair.

    The 69-year-old star may not be the same energetic force we remember as “sweet transvestite” Frank-N-Furter, but he told Moviefone he’s “very lucky” to be honored by his peers. “It feels amazing. I feel very lucky,” he said of accepting his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Actors Fund.

    He also wished “good luck” to Will Poulter (“We’re the Millers”), who’s been cast as the new Pennywise the clown in the upcoming remake of Stephen King’s “It,” a role Curry played to perfection in the 1990 mini-series. “It’s a wonderful part,” Curry said of Stephen King’s unforgettable evil clown, who terrorizes a group of children. When I mentioned that a lot of people consider Curry’s Pennywise a tough act to follow, the actor humbly said, “I don’t know about that.”

    We also remember Curry fondly from 1982’s “Annie,” in which he played con artist Rooster Hannigan to Aileen Quinn‘s orphan. Quinn was also at the June 7 event held at L.A.’s Skirball Center. She hadn’t seen Curry since making the film 33 years ago, but had great memories of his kindness on set. “He was so caring and nurturing. I know he’s known for these crazy, wild, evil characters, but offscreen, he was so kind to me. He would protect me and hold my hand real tight during stunt work. He would ask, ‘Are you nervous?’ He was so sweet. I can’t wait to give him a big hug,” she said.

    As part of the tribute to Curry, the show began with a performance of “The Time Warp” from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” featuring Sebastian La Cause (“Orange Is the New Black”), Renée Marino (“Jersey Boys”) and Ashley Argota (“The Fosters”).

    Even if he can’t do “The Time Warp,” it’s great to see Curry out and about again.
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  • Will Poulter to Play Pennywise in Cary Fukunaga’s ‘It’

    WIRED Cafe @ Comic Con - Day 1 Cary Fukunaga’s upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s horror classic “It” has found its villain: Will Poulter has been tapped to play Pennywise.

    1990 television miniseries. According to the trade, 22-year-old Poulter seems like an odd choice on the surface, but the actor — known mainly for his comedic supporting role in 2013’s “We’re the Millers” — reportedly nailed his audition, and “Fukunaga could not say no.”

    While an older actor was initially considered for the part (Variety writes that Mark Rylance and Ben Mendelsohn were also in the running), distributor New Line decided to bet on Poulter instead. That’s in line with Fukunaga’s vision for the flick, which Variety reports “will stay true to the King story while also giving the film a new look.”

    Poulter is now the face of Fukunaga’s film, which will be split into two parts to service King’s 900-page novel. Part one will focus on the protagonists as children, battling and banishing Pennywise, while the second installment revisits the same group as adults, as Pennywise (still played by Poulter) returns to terrorize them again.

    Looks like Poulter has big things ahead of him. He’ll next be seen alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu‘s “The Revenant,” in which he also plays an antagonist role.

    [via: Variety]

    Photo credit: Getty Images for WIRED

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