httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eu3qpDFhjo

He plays a sadistic wise-cracking clown who terrorises a small American town in the hotly-tipped horror film It.But Bill Skarsgard got a taste of his own medicine on Wednesday, as his mischievous older brother Alexander, 41, crept up behind him on the red carpet at the thriller’s world premiere in Los Angeles.

Oblivious to his sibling’s devilish intentions, 27-year-old Bill gave a relaxed smile as Alexander widened his eyes and flashed a pantomime sneer while preparing to shock him.

Clearly getting into the spirit of the horror film, Alexander kept the joke going as he bared his teeth in a mock-snarl behind Bill while placing a hand on his shoulder.

No doubt used to his older brother’s antics, Bill seemed unfazed and smiled coolly at the camera while posing on the red carpet.

Bill’s outing comes as legendary horror writer Stephen King and director Andy Muschietti have given a scary insight into the hotly-anticipated remake of IT, branding it ‘unsettling’ and terrifying’ ahead of the film’s September 8 release.

The film sees hunky Bill don the creepy face-paint and red wig to transform into the terrifying clown Pennywise who preys upon childrens’ worst fears.

If as successful as reports suggest, the film will spawn a part two based on the second half of the iconic book.

The Hollywood Reporter suggests that the film could rake in £38million in its opening weekend, making it the biggest horror movie debut in history and the biggest September opening ever.

Producer Roy Lee told Entertainment Weekly last year: ‘We’re taking it and making the movie from the point of view of the kids, and then making another movie from the point of view of the adults, that could potentially then be cut together like the novel.