Welcome to Derry: A Spooky Sneak Peek
- Get ready for the spine-chilling prequel to the It movies, inspired by Stephen King’s novel
- Welcome to Derry is set to premiere in October 2025
- Bill Skarsgård returns as the sinister Pennywise
Hold onto your seats as Pennywise, the notorious killer clown, prepares to haunt your screens this October.
The malevolent entity, originally from Stephen King’s novel, first terrorized audiences in 1990 in a TV miniseries called IT. Almost two decades after Tim Curry’s portrayal, Pennywise made a comeback to scare a new generation in the remakes IT (2017) and IT: Chapter Two (2019). Both films were highly successful, leading HBO to create a prequel series – Welcome to Derry.
Overseen by a trio of talented showrunners – director Andrés Muschietti, producer Bárbara Muschietti, and screenwriter Jason Fuchs – Welcome to Derry offers viewers a glimpse into the world of horror.
If you’re eager to learn more about the making of the series, continue reading. You can also check out our review of another Stephen King adaptation, The Long Walk, and discover why it’s “terrifying in all the right ways”.
When Can You Watch Welcome to Derry?
Welcome to Derry will debut on HBO Max on Sunday, 26 October 2025. The series will consist of nine thrilling episodes.
The premiere of the show was delayed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, but now fans can mark their calendars for the spooky release.
Who Will Be Featured in Welcome to Derry?
Bill Skarsgård, known for his portrayal of Pennywise in the movies, will reprise his role in the HBO series.
The talented cast also includes:
Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon
Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann
Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon
James Remar as Clint Bowers
Stephen Rider
Madeleine Stowe
Kimberly Guerrero
Dorian Grey
Thomas Mitchell
BJ Harrison
Peter Outerbridge
Shane Marriott
Chad Rook
Joshua Odjick
Morningstar Angeline
Take a look at the initial images showcasing the characters from the upcoming series:
Given that Welcome to Derry is set in the 1960s, preceding the events in the films, viewers can expect a fresh storyline without the familiar characters.
What Can You Expect from Welcome to Derry?
Welcome to Derry serves as a prequel to the IT movies, delving into the eerie history of the small town where Pennywise wreaked havoc. Set in the 1960s, the series will explore the origins of Pennywise’s presence in Derry and the terrifying events that unfold.
The show is likely to focus on a group of children targeted by the ancient evil, mirroring the events of the films.
Co-showrunner Andrés Muschietti shared some insights about the series, stating:
It’s a story that’s based on the interludes of the book. The interludes are basically chapters that reflect Mike Hanlon’s research. They’re fragments of his research. For 27 years, it’s the guy trying to figure out what it is, what did it, who did it, who saw it, and all that stuff… So they talk about catastrophic events from the past, like the fire in the Black Spot… the massacre of the Bradley Gang, a gang of bank robbers in the ‘30s… and the explosion of the Kitchener Ironworks. Every time [Pennywise] comes out of hibernation, there is a catastrophic event that happens at the beginning of that cycle.
Catch a Glimpse of Welcome to Derry
The latest trailer for the series teases the eerie atmosphere and mysterious disappearances in the town of Derry:
In the initial teaser for Welcome to Derry, a sinister presence looms over the town:
HBO has also released short clips to build anticipation for the series.
Check out the first clip:
And here’s the second one: