Georgie Denbrough

Last updated
Georgie Denbrough
It character
Georgie Denbrough.jpeg
First appearance It (1986)
Last appearance Yah (2022)
Created by Stephen King
Portrayed by1990 TV miniseries:
Tony Dakota
Theatrical film series:
Jackson Robert Scott
2022 Indian TV series:
Prashant Rane
In-universe information
Full nameGeorgie Elmer Denbrough
Family
  • Zack Denbrough (father)
  • Sharon Denbrough (mother)
  • Bill Denbrough (older brother)
Home Derry, Maine, United States
NationalityAmerican

George "Georgie" Elmer Denbrough is a fictional character created by Stephen King from his 1986 epic horror novel It . Georgie is the younger brother of Bill Denbrough, and falls prey to Pennywise the Clown. He is used by Pennywise to taunt Bill throughout the novel. Georgie is portrayed by Tony Dakota in the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation and by Jackson Robert Scott in the theatrical film series. Dakota also reprised his role for a 2019 short fan film based on the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation of the novel, titled Georgie, which shows a "What If" scenario if Georgie had survived his encounter with Pennywise. [1] He returns in the 2022 TV series, where he is portrayed by Prashant Rane.

Contents

Fictional character biography

Georgie Elmer Denbrough (also known as "Georgie") was born on September 18, 1951 (1954 in the 1990 TV miniseries and 1981 in the 2017 theatrical film adaptation) to Zack and Sharon Denbrough and is the younger brother of Bill Denbrough. Georgie has a very positive relationship with his older brother, considering him to be his best friend.

Encounter with Pennywise

On one October night in 1957 (1960 in the 1990 TV miniseries and 1988 in the theatrical film series), Georgie makes a paper boat with his older brother on a rainy day. Bill is too sick to accompany Georgie outside, so he helps him make the boat and sends him on his way. The boat ends up falling down a storm drain, much to Georgie's dismay. Georgie then encounters an evil clown monster (called "Pennywise") in the storm drain (who offers him a red balloon) and tells him about how people float down in the sewers. Pennywise offers Georgie his boat back, but when Georgie attempts to reach out to it, Pennywise grabs Georgie's arm and bites it off, leaving Georgie to bleed to death in the rain. In the theatrical film series, Georgie (instead of being left bleeding to death) is dragged down the sewers by Pennywise, after his arm is dismembered by the latter, calling Bill's name as no one hears. [2]

Being used by Pennywise

Not long after his death, Georgie's appearance would be utilized by Pennywise to taunt and provoke Bill. While this aspect of the novel is not represented in the 1990 TV miniseries, Georgie appears to Bill several times throughout the theatrical film series. [3]

Adaptations

1990 TV miniseries

Georgie Denbrough was portrayed by Tony Dakota in the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation. This iteration remains faithful to the source material, however, Georgie is killed by Pennywise off-screen. [4]

Theatrical film series

Jackson Robert Scott portrayed Georgie Denbrough in the theatrical film series Jackson Robert Scott MTV 2018.png
Jackson Robert Scott portrayed Georgie Denbrough in the theatrical film series

Georgie Denbrough was portrayed by Jackson Robert Scott in the 2017 film adaptation of the King novel as well as its 2019 sequel. This adaptation of the character features the onscreen demise of Georgie as well as showing more of Pennywise using Georgie to affect Bill psychologically. Behind the scenes of the 2017 film, the young actor stated that he was not afraid of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise and formed a bond with the actor. Scott's performance as Georgie was acclaimed by fans and critics. [5] [6] [7] [8]

Death and controversy

The violent nature of Georgie's death (in the 2017 film adaptation of It) received a polarizing response from some critics. While most people felt that the graphic nature of Georgie's death was necessary to show the danger of Pennywise, some viewers felt that Pennywise ripping a child's arm off and watching him attempt to crawl away was "downright disturbing" and "too graphic". [9] [10] [11]

2019 short fan film

Georgie Denbrough is the main character of Georgie, a 2019 short fan film based on the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation of the novel, with Tony Dakota reprising his role as the title character. This short fan film shows an undead adult Georgie (being resurrected through drawing). This is the only adaptation to show Georgie as an adult. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

Analysis

Throughout the novel and theatrical film series, Pennywise uses the "ghost of Georgie" to play on Bill's survivor's guilt. This is further explored in It Chapter Two (where Bill blames himself for Georgie's death), exemplified in a scene in which the adult Bill returns to the storm drain where Georgie was murdered. The scene progresses into a flashback where Pennywise's disembodied voice taunts Bill for not being present with Georgie when he died. The adult Bill struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (due to Georgie's death) and attempts to prevent Pennywise from killing another young boy (to no avail). [17] [18] [19] Georgie has also been seen as an interpretation of the way children are lured by predators, notably seen in Georgie's encounter with Pennywise at the storm drain. [20]

The character has also been referenced many times in different forms of media. He is mentioned numerous times by American heavy metal and metallic hardcore band Ice Nine Kills in their 2019 song "It Is The End" (which is based upon and inspired by the 2017 film adaptation of the novel). The song is from the band's fifth studio album The Silver Scream (in which all the songs are inspired by horror films). [21] [22] The scene where Georgie meets Pennywise (in the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation of the novel) has become an internet meme depicting Pennywise attempting to coerce Georgie to come down to the sewers with different things. [23] Georgie was also referenced in King's novel 11/22/63 . [24]

Related Research Articles

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It is a 1986 horror novel by American author Stephen King. It was his 22nd book and the 17th novel written under his own name. The story follows the experiences of seven children as they are terrorized by an evil entity that exploits the fears of its victims to disguise itself while hunting its prey. "It" primarily appears in the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown to attract its preferred prey of young children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Brandis</span> American actor (1976–2003)

Jonathan Gregory Brandis was an American actor. Beginning his career as a child model, Brandis moved on to acting in commercials and subsequently won television and film roles. Brandis made his acting debut in 1982 as Kevin Buchanan on the soap opera One Life to Live. In 1990, he portrayed Bill Denbrough in the television miniseries It, and starred as Bastian Bux in The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter. In 1993, at the age of 17, he was cast in the role of teen prodigy Lucas Wolenczak on the NBC series seaQuest DSV. The character was popular among teenage viewers, and Brandis regularly appeared in teen magazines. He died by suicide in 2003.

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Tony Dakota is an American actor known for his roles as Clavo on the television series 21 Jump Street and Georgie Denbrough in the 1990 television mini-series version of Stephen King's epic horror novel It. He also had voice roles in the animated television series Captain N: The Game Master, and had minor roles in television series such as MacGyver. In 2019, Dakota reprised his role as Georgie Denbrough in the short fan film, titled Georgie, based on the It television mini-series.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">It (character)</span> Title character of Stephen Kings 1986 novel

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaeden Martell</span> American actor (born 2003)

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<i>It</i> (miniseries) 1990 psychological horror/drama miniseries

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<i>It</i> (2017 film) 2017 supernatural horror film by Andy Muschietti

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<i>It Chapter Two</i> 2019 film by Andy Muschietti

It Chapter Two is a 2019 American supernatural horror film directed by Andy Muschietti from a screenplay by Gary Dauberman. It is the sequel to It (2017) and the second of a two-part adaptation of the 1986 novel It by Stephen King. The film stars Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Andy Bean, and Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise. Set 27 years after the events of the previous film, the story centers on the Losers Club and their relationships as they reunite to destroy It once and for all.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Denbrough</span> Fictional character from the novel IT

William "Bill" Denbrough is a fictional character created by Stephen King and the main protagonist of his 1986 novel It. The character is considered to be the leader of "The Losers Club" and initiates finding and killing Pennywise the Dancing Clown after his younger brother Georgie is killed by the clown. The character was first portrayed in the 1990 TV mini-series by Jonathan Brandis as a child, and by Richard Thomas as an adult. In the 2017 adaptation and its 2019 sequel, the character was portrayed by Jaeden Martell as a child and James McAvoy as an adult.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richie Tozier</span> Fictional character from the novel IT

Richard "Richie" Tozier is a fictional character created by Stephen King and one of the main characters of his 1986 novel It. The character is a member of "The Losers Club" and is seen to be the comic relief of the group; however, his loudmouthed antics often get him in trouble, leading to him being called "Richie 'Trashmouth' Tozier" and his friends often using the phrase "Beep Beep Richie" when they want him to be quiet. He was portrayed by Seth Green as a child and Harry Anderson as an adult in the 1990 miniseries adaptation of the novel, and by Ankur Javeri as a child and Nasirr Khan as an adult in the novel's 1998 television series adaptation. He was later portrayed by Finn Wolfhard as a child and Bill Hader as an adult in the 2017 film and its 2019 sequel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackson Robert Scott</span> American child actor (born 2008)

Jackson Robert Scott is an American teenaged actor known for playing Bode Locke in the Netflix series Locke & Key (2020–2022) and Georgie Denbrough in the films It Chapter One (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beverly Marsh</span> Fictional character from the novel It

Beverly "Bev" Marsh is a fictional character created by Stephen King and one of the main characters of his 1986 horror novel It. The character is seen as a member of "The Losers Club" and a romantic interest of fellow members Bill Denbrough and Ben Hanscom.

References

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