Stephen King Reveals Why One of His Most Popular Books Will Never Be Continued

Fans hoping Stephen King might someday return to the world of Pennywise may want to lower their expectations. The author himself has made it clear that he is done telling new stories about the killer clown.

During a fan Q&A, Stephen King openly said he has no plans to write a sequel or continuation to IT. According to King, the idea of going back to Pennywise feels exhausting. He admitted that even now, the character still scares him. As he put it, “Just thinking about Pennywise is enough for me”, explaining that he no longer has the energy to face that monster again. This information comes directly from King’s comments during the public Q&A.

King’s original novel IT, was released in 1986 and quickly became one of his most famous books. The story followed seven children in the town of Derry who were hunted by an ancient evil that could change shape and prey on their deepest fears. Pennywise the clown became one of horror’s most recognizable villains.

The story was first brought to television in 1990 with a two-part miniseries. Tim Curry’s performance as Pennywise left a lasting mark on pop culture and introduced a new generation to the nightmare living beneath Derry. According to Curry, the role was not easy. In his 2025 autobiography Vagabond, he addressed long-running rumors about his feelings toward clowns.

He wrote that while the makeup unsettled him, it was not a true phobia. Curry explained that playing Pennywise made him uncomfortable, but he accepted the role because he wanted to push himself. These details come from Curry’s own words in his memoir.

The franchise found new life decades later with the two-part film adaptation released in 2017 and 2019. Bill Skarsgård took over the role of Pennywise, bringing a darker and more unsettling version of the character to the screen. The first film became the highest-grossing horror movie of all time, according to box office records.

More recently, the story expanded again with HBO’s prequel series IT: Welcome to Derry. The show explores the history of the town 27 years before the events of the films and focuses on how the curse began. The eight-episode first season ended on December 14, 2025, according to HBO’s release schedule. Andy Muschietti, who directed the films, serves as executive producer on the series.

The cast includes Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, and James Remar. Bill Skarsgård also returned to the franchise for the prequel, further connecting the series to the recent films.

While King has stepped away from Pennywise, the actors tied to the character continue to stay busy. Tim Curry remains a respected figure in entertainment despite suffering a stroke in 2012. He now focuses mostly on voice work and fan appearances.

Bill Skarsgård, meanwhile, shows no signs of slowing down. According to studio announcements, he is set to appear in The Death of Robin Hood in 2026 alongside Hugh Jackman, playing Little John. He has also completed work on Dead Man’s Wire and is attached to the upcoming film The Mosquito Bowl.

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