The town of Derry is opening its dark gates once more. It: Welcome to Derry, the HBO prequel series to the hit horror films, arrives on October 26, 2025. The show introduces a new group of residents who must face the ancient evil of Pennywise, with a cast that includes both fresh faces and one very familiar clown.
The Main Cast and Their Characters
The series brings together an ensemble of talented actors to populate the cursed town of Derry in 1962. Here is a breakdown of the key players.
Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise
Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård returns to the role that made him a modern horror icon, once again portraying the shape-shifting entity known as Pennywise. He is also an executive producer on the series. While his presence looms large over the entire story, the show builds anticipation for the clown’s reveal, with producers comparing the approach to the slow-burn terror of Jaws. James Remar, who plays General Shaw, described the experience of seeing Skarsgård in character as “almost an otherworldly experience.”
Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon
Emmy-nominated actor Jovan Adepo takes on the role of Leroy Hanlon, an Air Force Major newly stationed at the Derry base. Leroy is the grandfather of Mike Hanlon, a key member of the Losers’ Club from the original story. Adepo explained that he thought about the traumas his character experiences and how they might be passed down through his son to his grandson, Mike.
Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon
Star of Zola, Taylour Paige plays Charlotte Hanlon, Leroy’s wife and a schoolteacher in Derry. Her character is drawn into the town’s mysteries when her students begin to experience strange and terrifying visions. Paige shared that discovering she was playing an ancestor of Mike Hanlon felt like a significant responsibility to make the connection seamless for fans.
Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann
Chris Chalk portrays a younger version of Dick Hallorann, a character well-known to Stephen King fans from The Shining. In this series, Dick is a community leader and is not yet the kindly mentor figure he becomes later in the King universe. Chalk described his version of Dick as a man with “no interest or no desire to be kind to anybody,” exploring his journey through pain.
James Remar as General Shaw
Veteran actor James Remar plays General Shaw, the commanding officer at the Derry Air Force Base. The character is stationed in Derry during the heightened tensions of the Cuban Missile Crisis, adding a layer of Cold War paranoia to the town’s existing horrors.
Stephen Rider as Hank Grogan
Stephen Rider appears as Hank, the operator of Derry’s local movie theater. His character gets into serious legal trouble that threatens to send him to the infamous Shawshank State Prison, creating a direct link to another beloved Stephen King story.
The Young Cast Facing the Fear
A new group of child actors plays the young residents of Derry who begin to uncover the town’s sinister secrets. Their investigations lead them into the town’s sewers and force them to confront terrifying visions.
- Blake Cameron James plays Will Hanlon, the young son of Leroy and Charlotte, and the future father of Mike Hanlon.
- Clara Stack appears as Lilly, a girl who spent time at the Juniper Hill Asylum after her father’s death.
- Amanda Christine plays Ronnie, whose father is the projectionist at the local theater.
- Mikkal Karim-Fidler plays Teddy, another young outcast with a familiar last name for King fans.
Key Supporting Characters and Cameos
The world of Welcome to Derry is filled with characters who hold pieces of the town’s dark puzzle.
Madeleine Stowe’s Mystery Role
Madeleine Stowe appears in a pivotal recurring role. While her character’s details are being kept secret, she is known to play a woman with deep roots in Derry’s past, and her knowledge of the town’s history may hold the key to understanding Pennywise’s origins.
Rudy Mancuso as Captain Paulie Russo
Social media star and actor Rudy Mancuso joins the cast as Captain Paulie Russo, an ally to Leroy Hanlon at the Air Force base. His character’s Cuban heritage ties directly into the era’s Cold War anxieties.
Kimberly Norris Guerrero as Rose
Kimberly Norris Guerrero plays Rose, a local Indigenous businesswoman with a special connection to the mythology of Pennywise and the cursed history of Derry.
Behind the Scenes of the Casting
The series is developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs, the same team behind the recent It films. Andy Muschietti directs multiple episodes, including the pilot. The production went to great lengths to recreate 1962, filming in the real town of Port Hope, Ontario, to achieve an immersive experience. Barbara Muschietti described the set as a “trip to go down the street and just have five blocks of 1962.”
The creators have stated that the first season is part of a larger plan, with intentions to explore earlier cycles of Pennywise’s terror in potential future seasons set in 1935 and 1908.
“We wanted to raise the bar higher in terms of shock value,” director Andy Muschietti said about the series’ opening scene. “You’re immediately putting people on the edge of the seat.”
The cast has highlighted how the series uses its horror premise to tackle real-world fears and social issues. Chris Chalk noted that the genre can “trick people who might not like talking about something into talking about something,” making difficult themes more accessible. Jovan Adepo added that grounding the story in real issues helps the audience care about the characters organically before the supernatural horror takes over.
It: Welcome to Derry premieres on October 26, 2025, on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
Also Read: IT: Welcome to Derry: Guide to the Pennywise Prequel Series
