The entity known as It, made popular as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, is an ancient evil force that predates the universe, originating from the macroverse, a primordial void between realities. It represents pure consumption and destruction, contrasting with the benevolent cosmic turtle Maturin. It uses the 'deadlights' as its primary form—a chaotic and indescribable dimension of pure madness and evil.
Its connection extends to the wider Stephen King universe, tying into tales like The Dark Tower, as one of the many ancient beings that predates the tower itself. It crash-landed on Earth, specifically in Derry, Maine, where it became a feeding ground due to the recurring 27-year cycle of carnage.
With a penchant for assuming forms based on its victims' deepest fears, It’s favorite incarnation is Pennywise. The settlers of Derry unwittingly laid their roots atop Its resting place, leading to a legacy of violence and psychic influence that repeated through generations.
Elders from the Shakapiwa tribe first encountered It, attempting a ritual to banish the entity. Despite their failure, they uncovered Its vulnerability to collective faith, a seed that would enable others to eventually confront and challenge It’s terror.
The Losers Club ultimately faced It twice, managing to temporarily defeat the entity by diminishing Its power through their beliefs, suggesting the possibility of Its return. The narrative implies these cycles of violence could be revisited in adaptations such as the planned series "It: Welcome to Derry."
Derry’s history is marred by cycles of strange disappearances and mass tragedies, manipulated by It to instill fear and chaos. They range from explosions and fires to social conflicts, sustaining It's existence.
The upcoming "It: Welcome to Derry" series plans to delve deeper into these events, exploring each 27-year cycle. The show aims to unravel Derry’s unsettling atmosphere across different timelines within the King universe.