Get ready for a deep dive into the 10 shocking secrets of Stephen King’s original IT miniseries. From Tim Curry’s backstage antics to the almost‑missed ten‑hour Romero version, we’ve gathered every eerie tidbit that makes the 1990 adaptation a true cult classic.
Shocking Secrets Unveiled
10 Everyone On Set Avoided Tim Curry
At some point we all grew up watching that iconic scene: a kid in a yellow rain slicker chasing a paper boat down a flooded street, only to have the boat disappear into a storm drain… and then, boom—Tim Curry’s Pennywise pops out, grinning like a nightmare come alive. While Curry’s performance scarred a generation of viewers, the actor himself was something of a pariah on set. Crew members kept a respectful distance from his terrifying clown visage, fearing the very thing they were about to unleash on audiences.
9 Tim Curry Originally Turned Down The Role Of Pennywise
Even after cementing his place among horror icons like Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger, Tim Curry wasn’t initially sold on becoming the shape‑shifting clown. He’d just wrapped his turn as the Devil in Ridley Scott’s Legend and wasn’t eager to endure another marathon of prosthetics. Director Tommy Lee Wallace sweetened the deal by promising fewer makeup layers, and Curry finally slipped into the role that would become legendary.
8 The Original Two‑Part Broadcast Was a Smash Hit
ABC worried the horror might flop, but the numbers proved otherwise. When Part 1 aired on November 18, 1990, it earned an 18.5 rating, reaching 17.5 million households. The sequel fared even better—20.6 rating and 19.2 million viewers tuned in for the finale, making it the second‑most‑watched broadcast that night. Clearly, America couldn’t get enough of King’s nightmare on their living‑room screens.
7 Tim Curry Was Not A Fan Of The Ending
Even the man behind the clown wasn’t thrilled with how Part 2 wrapped up. The final half‑hour swapped the terrifying, otherworldly It for a flimsy spider puppet, leaving fans muttering, “What?” Network execs deemed King’s original ritual too cerebral, opting for a cheap slingshot scene instead. Director Wallace had storyboarded a far more ambitious climax, but budget and time constraints forced a disappointing conclusion.
6 Two Of The Miniseries’s Stars Died Tragically In 2003
In a cruel twist of fate, 2003 saw the deaths of two beloved cast members. Jonathan Brandis, who played young Bill Denbrough, took his own life on November 12, 2003. John Ritter, the adult Ben Hanscom, passed away from a heart attack on the set of 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter on September 11, 2003. Both actors left a lasting legacy beyond their roles in the miniseries.
5 The Director Didn’t Read The Novel Before Making The Film
Believe it or not, Tommy Lee Wallace hadn’t opened Stephen King’s massive tome before signing on to direct the two‑part adaptation. He relied solely on screenwriter Lawrence D. Cohn’s script and network notes. Years later, after the miniseries aired, Wallace finally read the novel and admitted his version fell short of King’s terrifying vision.
4 IT Was Almost A Ten‑Hour Miniseries Directed By George A. Romero
Before Wallace took the helm, horror legend George A. Romero was slated to direct a sprawling five‑night, ten‑hour adaptation. ABC grew jittery about the novel’s dark themes and slashed the project down to two nights. Displeased with the network’s trimming, Romero walked away, leaving fans to wonder what a full‑length Romero version of IT might have looked like.
3 The Film Premiered The Same Year Bill Skarsgard Was Born
Bill Skarsgard—renowned for his chilling turn as the modern Pennywise—was born on August 9, 1990, just three months before the original miniseries hit the airwaves. One can imagine a young Skarsgard, perhaps nudged by an older sibling, watching the iconic yellow‑rain‑slicker scene that would later define his own career.
2 Roddy McDowall And Malcolm McDowell Were Considered For Pennywise
The casting directors didn’t stop at Tim Curry. They also eyed Roddy McDowall—known from Fright Night—and Malcolm McDowell, the unsettling Alex DeLarge from A Clockwork Orange. While Curry ultimately won the part, it’s fun to imagine how McDowell’s manic energy might have reshaped the clown’s menace.
1 Alice Cooper Was Also Considered For The Role Of Pennywise
Even rock legend Alice Cooper entered the casting conversation. Though it’s unclear how serious the producers were about hiring the shock‑rock icon, the mere idea of Cooper in a clown suit adds an extra layer of macabre intrigue to the film’s behind‑the‑scenes lore.