Pennywise The Clown star Bill Skarsgard unrecognisable as cult horror film gets reboot

Bill Skarsgard terrified millions of us in two outings as Pennywise The Clown. And now the Swedish actor is starring in yet another remake of a classic cult horror film from the 1990s.

Skarsgard played the role of Pennywise in It and It Chapter Two, based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King.

The performance was compelling viewing but mortifying, with many struggling to watch, as he tormented kids in the small American town of Derry.

Pennywise was played by Tim Curry in the 1990 original, which aired as a mini-series rather than standalone films.

Now, he's set to take up another iconic role from the 90s, this time from a 1994 cult horror film.

The Crow stars Brandon Lee - son of Bruce Lee - in the lead role of Eric Draven, which is the role Skarsgard will be taking up.

The night before his wedding, Eric and his fiancee are murdered in a horrific attack.

On the sombre anniversary of their death, Eric rises from his grave as the gothic supernatural anti-hero, The Crow.

He sets his sights on finding those responsible for their murders.

Skarsgard will star alongside musician FKA Twigs in the film, with the 36-year-old playing the role of his fiancee Shelly Webster.

Now, a first look at Skarsgard in the iconic role has been released via Vanity Fair.

And the look is a million miles away from the scary clown role that made us fear the living daylight out of him in It.

That's not to say the new role is all sunshine and rainbows by any means; how can it be when you're playing yet another twisted, mythical and unearthly character.

Images show Skarsgard heavily tattooed across his face and torso.

It's a different look to Lee's version of Eric Draven, who looked more like the love child of Edward Scissorhands and one of the bandmates from the rock band KISS.

Bill Skarsgård steps into the role of goth rocker Eric Draven, who, along with his lover Shelley (played by FKA twigs), is brutally murdered when the demons of her past catch up with them.

🔗: https://t.co/7UWmspwyXH pic.twitter.com/5WosKZlA8E

— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) February 28, 2024

Speaking to Vanity Fair, director Rupert Sanders said: "What drew me to this was the opportunity to make a dark romance, something that dealt with loss, grief, and the ethereal veil between life and death and reaching through that."

Star of the original The Crow, Brandon Lee, tragically died on set while filming the flick. The film went ahead given production was in the final stages with the vast majority of his scenes already shot; but it was a death that most certainly hung over the film.

But Sanders said Skarsgard feels like a 'successor' to the character so expertly portrayed by Lee. He said: "Obviously, it was a terrible tragedy, and it’s definitely something that we’ve always had in mind through the making of the film,” he says.

“Brandon was an original voice and I think he will always be synonymous with The Crow and I hope he’s proud of what we’ve done and how we’ve brought the story back again.

"His soul is very much alive in this film. There’s a real fragility and beauty to his version of The Crow, and I think Bill feels like he is a successor to that."

The Crow will be released in the United States on 7 June.