The first trailer for IT: Welcome to Derry has arrived, and it brings back Bill Skarsgård as the horrifying Pennywise the Clown. The HBO Max prequel series is set 27 years before the events of the IT movies, diving into the dark history of Derry, Maine.
Fans get a quick glimpse of Pennywise at the end of the trailer, lurking in the shadows, ready to terrorize a new group of kids. The show explores the 1960s era of Derry, where the shape-shifting monster awakens from its long slumber to feed on fear.
The series is based on Stephen King’s famous novel and expands on the world created by director Andy Muschietti in the IT films. It follows the pattern of Pennywise waking up every 27 years to hunt children before going back into hibernation.
“I’m excited that the story of Derry, Maine’s most haunted city, is continuing,” Stephen King said about the series. “I’m glad Andy Muschietti is going to be overseeing the frightening festivities.”
The trailer introduces a fresh cast, including Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, and Rudy Mancuso. While Pennywise only appears briefly, the eerie atmosphere of Derry is fully on display.
Fans were worried Bill Skarsgård might not return as the iconic clown, but he confirmed his involvement. “It was strange to be back,” Skarsgård said. “Andy and Barbara Muschietti were doing the show, and I adore them. Most of the crew was the same people that did the movies.”
The series will dig deeper into the lore of IT, including the town’s violent past and how Pennywise manipulates the people of Derry. The creature’s 27-year cycle plays a key role, just like in the original story.
“We got to explore different sides of old Pennywise,” Skarsgård added. “There’s some cool stuff in there that we haven’t seen.” The show will reveal more about the clown’s previous reign of terror before the Losers’ Club faced him.
The IT movies, released in 2017 and 2019, were massive hits, earning over $1.17 billion worldwide. Fans have been eager for more, and this prequel promises to deliver fresh scares while staying true to King’s vision.
The trailer keeps Pennywise’s appearance minimal, focusing instead on the town’s unsettling vibe. This has left fans both excited and nervous about what’s coming.
“Please god I know it would be expensive but let it be Bill Skarsgård back in the role,” one fan commented online. Another said, “Who is playing Pennywise? Hopefully Bill Skarsgård!”
The series is produced by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, along with Jason Fuchs, who co-wrote the script. The team aims to expand on the interludes from the book, where Mike Hanlon investigates Derry’s dark history.
“This is a book we love a lot, and we felt that there was still a lot of story to be covered,” the Muschiettis told Entertainment Weekly. “It’s so rich with characters and events, we thought we would do justice to the book and the fans.”
The show will also explore themes like friendship, loss, and fear, similar to the films. However, it will focus more on how fear is used as a weapon, making it relevant to modern audiences.
IT: Welcome to Derry is set to premiere this fall on HBO Max. With Skarsgård back as Pennywise and a chilling new story, the series is shaping up to be another terrifying chapter in the IT saga.
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Credits: Sources include Deadline, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, and Ladbible.
