IT: Welcome to Derry – Everything We Know About the New Max Horror Prequel Series
Prepare to return to the haunting streets of Derry, Maine, where something sinister lurks in the sewers once again. “IT: Welcome to Derry” is an upcoming Max horror prequel series based on Stephen King’s iconic novel IT. First announced in 2022, the series serves as a chilling expansion of the world introduced in Andy Muschietti’s two-part film adaptations (IT 2017 and IT Chapter Two 2019).
With Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs leading the charge, Welcome to Derry aims to deepen the mythology of Pennywise and explore the untold horrors of Derry’s dark past. From its release date and plot details to casting announcements and future seasons, here’s everything you need to know about this highly anticipated horror series.
🎈 IT: Welcome to Derry – Release Date

Originally targeted for a Halloween 2024 release, production delays caused by the 2023 writers’ strike forced Max (formerly HBO Max) to push the date. The new official release window is October 2025, just in time for spooky season.
While the exact premiere date is still under wraps, Max has confirmed via social media that “All roads lead to Derry” — and that San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2025 will be the show’s “first stop,” teasing major reveals or footage at the event.
🎥 IT: Welcome to Derry – Trailer and Teasers
In May 2025, fans were treated to the first full trailer for Welcome to Derry, setting the tone for what promises to be a creepy and atmospheric dive into the town’s cursed history. The trailer features shadowy alleyways, eerie carnival music, and terrified children — all signatures of Pennywise’s reign of terror.
Another 7-second teaser clip shows a group of kids riding their bikes beneath a bridge as a train passes overhead. One girl whispers, “What did you see?” and a boy replies, “A clown,” before he’s dragged under the water by a rotting arm — a chilling callback to Georgie’s fate in the 2017 film.
What did you see? 🤡🎈
— Actually HBO Max (@StreamOnMax) November 11, 2024
The HBO Original Series #ITWelcomeToDerry is coming to Max in 2025. pic.twitter.com/VYydTv2o6L
🎭 Cast: Who Stars in IT: Welcome to Derry?
A series set in the terrifying world of IT requires a large and diverse cast, and Welcome to Derry delivers with a star-studded ensemble:
Confirmed Cast:
- Bill Skarsgård – reprising his role as Pennywise the Dancing Clown
- Jovan Adepo
- Chris Chalk
- Taylour Paige
- James Remar
- Stephen Rider
- Dean Yool
- Madeleine Stowe
- Alixandra Fuchs
- Kimberly Norris Guerrero
- Tyner Rushing
- Dorian Grey
- Thomas Mitchell
- BJ Harrison
- Peter Outerbridge
- Shane Marriott
- Chad Rook
- Joshua Odjick
- Morningstar Angeline
- Rudy Mancuso
While most roles are still under wraps, Jovan Adepo is believed to be portraying Will Hanlon, father of Mike Hanlon, based on promotional images showing him in a military uniform.
The major reveal here is the return of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise. His portrayal in the 2017 and 2019 movies has become iconic, balancing eerie charm and nightmarish presence — a performance many consider a worthy successor to Tim Curry’s original portrayal in the 1990 miniseries.
📖 Plot: What’s the Story Behind IT: Welcome to Derry?
IT: Welcome to Derry is set decades before the events of the IT films, exploring the origins of Pennywise and the catastrophic events that haunt the town every 27 years.
Official Synopsis:
“Set in the world of Stephen King’s IT universe, IT: Welcome to Derry is based on King’s IT novel and expands the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the feature films IT and IT Chapter Two.”
While the films focused on the 1980s and 2010s, the show jumps back in time to 1962, 27 years before the events of the 2017 movie, and explores one of the town’s most notorious tragedies — the burning of the Black Spot, a nightclub for Black Air Force servicemen.
Historical Context:
The show’s events are inspired by “interludes” from Mike Hanlon’s research in the novel, where he uncovers Derry’s sinister history through firsthand accounts of mass tragedies tied to Pennywise’s return.
Season 1 Focus: The Black Spot Fire
The story will center on Will Hanlon, Mike’s father, and the opening of the Black Spot bar, which becomes a target of racial violence. In the novel, Pennywise appears during the fire in the form of a giant bird and claims its first victim — a harrowing metaphor for the town’s latent evil.
🧩 How It Fits Into the IT Universe
While Welcome to Derry is a prequel, it’s designed to expand the mythos, not simply explain Pennywise’s origins. Fans hoping for an origin story about the extraterrestrial being known as “It” may not get that outright. Instead, the focus is on how Pennywise influences real-world tragedy, manifesting during moments of intense fear, trauma, and violence.
Andy Muschietti emphasized in interviews that the series will lean into universal themes of:
- Fear as a weapon
- Friendship and unity
- Trauma and generational pain
- Derry as a character in its own right
📆 Future Seasons: A Trilogy in the Making?
According to co-creator Andy Muschietti, IT: Welcome to Derry is designed as a three-season series, with each season exploring a different catastrophic event tied to Pennywise’s reawakening.
Planned Timeline:
- Season 1 (1962): Black Spot fire
- Season 2 (1935): Bradley Gang massacre – a brutal slaughter of bank robbers
- Season 3 (1908): Kitchener Ironworks explosion – a deadly blast that killed dozens of children during an Easter egg hunt
Each of these historical events is taken from the original novel’s interludes, and will be depicted on screen for the first time. Muschietti explained that the story will move backward in time, exploring how the town’s trauma is passed down through generations — and how Pennywise exploits it all.
👻 Will IT: Welcome to Derry Be Scary?
All signs point to yes. With Andy Muschietti directing multiple episodes and the creative team from the movies fully involved, Welcome to Derry is positioned to deliver the same chilling atmosphere, unnerving horror, and emotional depth that made the films so successful.
Moreover, Muschietti has promised that the series will push boundaries, using the longer format to dive deeper into character development, social commentary, and suspense than the films could manage in their limited runtime.
Expect:
- Creepy encounters with Pennywise
- Psychological horror elements
- Social tension reflective of real-world issues
- Sudden, shocking violence and dread
🔮 Will the Show Stay True to Stephen King’s Novel?
King himself has endorsed the project, and the show appears committed to remaining faithful to the tone and lore of the source material, even as it introduces new characters and modernizes historical context. Fans of the book can expect:
- Detailed explorations of Derry’s cursed past
- Deeper focus on Mike Hanlon’s family and legacy
- More terrifying manifestations of Pennywise
By exploring periods the films skipped over, Welcome to Derry might even be the most lore-accurate adaptation of IT yet.
✅ Final Thoughts: Should You Be Excited for IT: Welcome to Derry?
Absolutely. For fans of Stephen King, horror buffs, or anyone intrigued by the rich mythology of Derry and Pennywise, IT: Welcome to Derry offers a rare opportunity to see parts of the story never before brought to life on screen.
With:
- A powerhouse creative team,
- A phenomenal cast,
- A multi-season plan,
- And a commitment to horror that goes beyond jump scares,
…it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting horror series in recent memory.
📅 TL;DR Quick Summary:
Category | Details |
---|---|
Series Title | IT: Welcome to Derry |
Release Date | October 2025 (Exact date TBA) |
Streaming On | Max (formerly HBO Max) |
Episodes | 9 (Season 1) |
Setting | 1962, 27 years before IT (2017) |
Lead Villain | Pennywise the Dancing Clown (Bill Skarsgård) |
Showrunners | Andy & Barbara Muschietti, Jason Fuchs |
Plot Focus | The Black Spot fire and early Pennywise events |
Future Seasons | Planned for 1935 and 1908 eras |
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