The first teaser for HBO Max’s IT: Welcome to Derry dropped in late December 2025 and immediately reignited Pennywise mania. But the moment that has fans talking the most isn’t the clown himself—it’s the brief, heartbreaking glimpse of Bob Gray, Pennywise’s human form before the monster took over.

Bill Skarsgård, who has portrayed Pennywise in both the 2017 and 2019 IT films, gave a rare and emotional interview to Vanity Fair (published January 14, 2026) where he personally broke down the Bob Gray reveal and explained why it was intentionally “tragic.”

Here’s the full scene breakdown, Skarsgård’s own words, and what it means for the prequel series.

The Teaser Scene – What We Actually See

At the 1:07 mark of the teaser, we get a quick, silent flashback:

• A young man (late 20s/early 30s) with pale skin, dark hair, and tired eyes stands alone in a dimly lit 19th-century Derry street.
• He’s wearing a simple wool coat and flat cap—clothing that would later become part of Pennywise’s clown outfit.
• The camera lingers on his face for just 3 seconds.
• His expression is hollow, almost defeated. No smile. No menace. Just profound sadness.
• A child’s balloon floats past him in the foreground—red, of course.
• The screen cuts to black before he can react.

No dialogue. No jump scare. Just pure, quiet tragedy.

Bill Skarsgård’s Own Breakdown (Direct Quotes)

In the Vanity Fair piece, Skarsgård spoke candidly about the choice to show Bob Gray as broken rather than evil:

“When we first talked about showing Bob Gray, Andy [Muschietti] and I agreed it couldn’t be a cackling villain origin. That’s too easy. This is a man who was destroyed long before the entity ever touched him. The tragedy is that he was already lost.”

He continued:

“The moment is only three seconds long, but every micro-expression was deliberate. The eyes are dead, but they’re not angry. They’re exhausted. That’s the point. Pennywise didn’t corrupt a good man—he found someone who had already been hollowed out by life. That’s what makes the monster so terrifying: it’s wearing someone else’s grief.”

Skarsgård also confirmed that the Bob Gray we see is not the moment he becomes Pennywise—it’s years earlier:

“This is Bob Gray at his lowest point, before the deal, before the circus, before the children. He’s already a ghost in his own life. The entity didn’t create the monster—it just gave the ghost a costume.”

Why This Reveal Is So Powerful

Most origin stories for horror icons show the villain choosing evil (Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, etc.). Bob Gray’s story appears to go the opposite direction:

• He was broken first.
• The evil chose him because he was already empty.
• The clown suit is not a mask of madness—it’s the only thing keeping what’s left of him from disappearing completely.

This single, silent shot has already changed how fans view the entire IT mythology.

What Fans Are Saying Online (Mid-January 2026)

• “Bob Gray looks more broken than Pennywise ever did. That’s terrifying.”
• “Three seconds and I’m crying for a guy who becomes a child-eating clown. Bill Skarsgård is insane.”
• “If the whole show is this level of tragedy, I’m not ready.”
• “This is the best Pennywise lore we’ve ever gotten. Period.”

What’s Next for IT: Welcome to Derry

The series is set in the early 20th century and explores how Pennywise first came to Derry and began his cycle of terror. Skarsgård is heavily involved behind the scenes as executive producer and has confirmed he will appear in the series—though how much is still unknown.

The first season is expected to premiere in late 2026 or early 2027, with multiple seasons planned to cover the full history of Pennywise in Derry.

One thing is clear after this teaser and Skarsgård’s comments: this is not going to be a typical clown origin story.

It’s going to be a tragedy. Check out Filmbuzzr for more Exclusive Previews!

What do you think of the Bob Gray reveal? Does it make Pennywise scarier or more human? Share your thoughts in the comments!