Director Andy Muschietti’s adaptation of Stephen King’s acclaimed horror novel IT has grossed over $1 billion globally across its two films. Muschietti returns to the franchise with a new nine-episode prequel series for HBO titled IT: Welcome to Derry. The series delves into the roots of Pennywise the Clown, portrayed by Bill Skarsgård, exploring the dark entity that haunts the fictional town every 27 years. An official trailer for the prequel has been released just in time for its scheduled debut in October.
(Warning: Minor spoilers for IT and IT: Chapter Two ahead.)
Set in 1989, the original adaptation of IT largely covered half of King’s narrative, introducing audiences to a group of misfit children known as “The Losers Club.” These kids uncover the presence of a malevolent, ancient force in their town of Derry, which awakens every 27 years to torment primarily children, taking the form of the sinister clown Pennywise. In the story, Bill (Jaeden Lieberher) faces the tragic loss of his younger brother Georgie to Pennywise, prompting the group to combat the clown and ultimately drive him into a dormant state, hoping he would starve. However, Beverly (Sophia Lillis) foresees that Pennywise will return precisely in 27 years, signaling the need for another confrontation.
IT: Chapter Two brought viewers back 27 years later, featuring the adult versions of the protagonists as they reunite in Derry to face their childhood nemesis once again. While they manage to defeat Pennywise in the final showdown, the encounter comes at a cost. Although the two films covered significant portions of the source material, they omitted crucial flashback scenes detailing Mike’s investigations into Derry’s ominous history through conversations with older residents.
One notable incident included in IT: Chapter Two is the burning down of the Black Spot, a nightclub owned by Mike’s (Chosen Jacobs and Isaiah Mustafa) father, Will, which was targeted by local white supremacists. This historical tragedy will also be featured in Welcome to Derry. The series is set in 1962, with Muschietti indicating that plans are in place for three seasons, each exploring different time periods in 1935 and 1908 as well, in accordance with Pennywise’s recurring cycle. As Muschietti articulated, “There’s a reason why the story is told backwards.”
A killer clown
Taylour Paige stars as Charlotte Hanlon alongside Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon, a Black couple moving to Derry with their son Will amid a wave of mysterious disappearances. Skarsgård reprises his iconic role as Pennywise, while Chris Chalk plays a young Dick Halloran, a character recognizable to King fans from The Shining and Doctor Sleep. The cast also features Madeline Stowe, James Remar, Stephen Rider, and Rudy Mancuso.
The trailer begins with picturesque scenes of a joyful town as the Hanlon family settles in, but hints at the darkness lurking beneath the facade of idyllic Americana. “Things happened here,” a girl named Lilly narrates, “But we don’t really talk about it. No one does.” The footage even includes a subtle reference to Shawshank prison, a nod to The Shawshank Redemption. Another group of children embarks on a mission to discover the fate of their missing classmate, inevitably leading them to the town’s eerie sewers.
Halloran makes his presence felt in the trailer with a statement about “25 confirmed deaths, most of them children.” We witness a meteor strike the Earth, a detail familiar to those who have read the book. Soon after, Pennywise’s unsettling laughter echoes as viewers catch a glimpse of the clown brandishing his signature red balloon, signaling a terrifying onslaught of horror. The preview indicates a frightening and suitable expansion of the narrative for the franchise.
IT: Welcome to Derry is set to premiere on October 26, 2025, on HBO and will also be available for streaming on HBO Max.
