In late fall of 1957 (1959/spring 1960 in the TV mini-series; 1988 in the 2017 film), Bill is suffering from a cold, and he helps construct a paper boat for his younger brother Georgie to play with outside, despite the downpour of rain.

[4] After this incident, in the summer of 1958 (1960 in the 1990 TV mini-series; 1989 in the 2017 film), Bill and his friends Eddie Kaspbrak, Richie Tozier and Stanley Uris all have encounters with Pennywise.

[5][6] Bill was portrayed by Jonathan Brandis as a child and Richard Thomas as an adult in the 1990 TV mini-series directed by Tommy Lee Wallace.

The first movie depicts Bill deluding himself that Georgie is still alive to the point of causing the Losers Club to scatter following their first encounter with Pennywise at the Neibolt House.

[11][12][13] Audra's role in the story is removed with Pennywise instead tormenting Bill through both his guilt and being forced to watch It kill another child in front of him.

[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Neither adaptation features Bill and the rest of the Losers meeting with Maturin the Turtle – a god-like figure in the novel who is the antithesis to Pennywise.

[25][26][27][28][29] The film series also deviates from the source material by not including the Loser's Club members losing their virginity to Beverly Marsh in the sewers after defeating Pennywise for the first time.

[30][31] In It: Chapter Two, the element of post traumatic stress disorder is hinted at once the characters get the phone call from Mike Hanlon asking them to return to Derry.

Bill's struggles lead to his failed attempts to save another young boy from suffering the same fate as Georgie, only to be murdered by Pennywise right in front of him.

Bill's development into a maturing adult due to the loss of his brother, Georgie, and the threat of Pennywise was widely acclaimed by fans and critics.

[42] Bill is briefly mentioned again in 11/22/63, and fellow members of the Loser's Club, Beverly Marsh and Richie Tozier make physical appearances.