The town of Derry is opening its doors to terror once again. The highly anticipated horror series IT: Welcome to Derry is scheduled to premiere on October 26, 2025. This new show serves as a direct prequel to the two recent IT films, diving into the dark history of the cursed town and the origins of the evil clown, Pennywise. Developed by the same creative team behind the movies, the series promises to expand the nightmare that has haunted Stephen King fans for decades.
The Story and Setting
IT: Welcome to Derry is set in the year 1962, which is 27 years before the events of the 2017 IT movie. The story begins as a couple, Leroy and Charlotte Hanlon, move to the small Maine town with their young son. Their arrival coincides with the mysterious disappearance of a local boy, which acts as a catalyst for a series of very bad things to start happening across Derry.
The series will explore the deeper lore of Derry, drawing from the “interlude” chapters of Stephen King’s original novel. These chapters, which detail the town’s long and bloody history, were part of Mike Hanlon’s research in the book. A major historical event from the novel, the burning of a nightclub called The Black Spot, is expected to feature prominently. The show aims to connect these past tragedies to the manipulative influence of Pennywise, who is known to awaken and feed on fear every 27 years. Executive producer Jason Fuchs has stated that the plan is not only to reveal the origin of Pennywise but also the origin of the “cursed town” itself.
The Complete Cast and Returning Faces
The series brings together a mix of new characters and a very familiar, terrifying face.
- Bill Skarsgård returns to his iconic role as Pennywise the Clown. He will also serve as an executive producer on the series.
- The new central family is led by Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon and Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon.
- Chris Chalk joins the cast as Dick Hallorann, a character famously known as the cook with the “shining” from Stephen King’s The Shining.
- James Remar plays General Francis Shaw.
- The cast also includes Stephen Rider as Hank, Madeleine Stowe, and Rudy Mancuso as Pauly.
- The younger cast members facing the horror include Blake Cameron James as Will Hanlon, Miles Ekhardt as Matty, and Clara Stack as Lily.
Release Schedule and How to Watch
IT: Welcome to Derry will premiere on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max. The first season will consist of eight episodes released on a weekly schedule. The first episode is scheduled to air on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 9:00 PM Eastern Time.
The full release schedule for the first season is as follows:
- Episode 1: “The Pilot” – October 26, 2025
- Episode 2: “The Thing in the Dark” – November 2, 2025
- Episode 3: “Now You See It” – November 9, 2025
- Episode 4 – November 16, 2025
- Episode 5 – November 23, 2025
- Episode 6 – November 30, 2025
- Episode 7 – December 7, 2025
- Episode 8 – December 14, 2025
Behind the Scenes and Future Plans
The series is a direct continuation of the world established in the IT films. Andy Muschietti, who directed both movies, directed the first four episodes of the series, including the pilot. He developed the show with his sister, producer Barbara Muschietti, and writer Jason Fuchs, all of whom are executive producers. Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane are the showrunners. The composer for the films, Benjamin Wallfisch, has also returned to score the series.
The creators have a larger plan for the story. In interviews, Andy Muschietti revealed that the prequel is intended to span three seasons, with each season moving backward in time to explore a different cycle of Pennywise’s awakening. The first season is set in 1962. The planned second season would be set in 1935, and the third in 1908. This structure would allow the series to explore other catastrophic events from the novel’s history of Derry, such as the massacre of the Bradley Gang and the explosion of the Kitchener Ironworks.
“There’s a reason why the story is told backwards,” Muschietti said, hinting at the narrative design connecting these eras of terror.
Filming for the first season took place in Ontario, Canada, and was completed in August 2024. The official trailer was released in September 2025, giving fans a full look at the return of Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise and the 1960s setting of Derry.
Also Read: It: Welcome to Derry New Trailer Reveals More Pennywise Terror Before Premiere
