After four episodes of building dread, the horror prequel IT: Welcome to Derry is poised to finally unleash its most famous resident. Episode 5, titled “Neibolt Street,” is expected to feature the proper introduction of Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise the Clown, a moment fans have been anticipating since the series began.
The series serves as a prequel to the recent IT films, set in 1960s Derry and exploring the earlier horrors that plagued the town long before the Losers Club faced them. The first half of the season has carefully built its terrifying foundation while keeping its main monster largely in the shadows.
Pennywise’s Imminent Arrive
A recently released mid-season trailer confirms that Pennywise will have a significant presence in the remaining episodes. The footage shows the blood-smeared clown in the sewers, ominously thanking a character, presumably young Lilly Bainbridge, for convincing “everyone to come see me, because you’re such a good friend.”
In another chilling moment, Pennywise states, “I always wondered how you taste” as a terrified child backs away from him on the ground. The trailer also shows the clown in a fiery setting, attempting to lure characters like Dick Hallorann and Ronnie Grogan to join him.
While the trailer doesn’t specify which episode marks Pennywise’s full debut, multiple entertainment sources indicate episode 5 will be the turning point. The series has so far focused on building its core characters and the mysterious disappearances in Derry, saving its biggest horror for the season’s second half.
What to Expect in “Neibolt Street”
The episode’s title, “Neibolt Street,” holds significance for IT fans. In both the book and films, the abandoned house on Neibolt Street serves as one of Pennywise’s primary lairs and a location of major confrontations. This suggests the episode might explore this iconic location’s history.
Beyond Pennywise’s anticipated appearance, the mid-season trailer reveals several key developments. Young Lilly Bainbridge will reportedly dig into the history of Bob Gray, Pennywise’s human alias. The trailer also shows Hank Grogan, Ronnie’s father, being attacked while boarding a bus to Shawshank State Prison, another familiar location from Stephen King’s universe.
Meanwhile, Marge Truman appears set to join the 1960s-era version of the Losers Club as the children begin to face IT directly. The military storyline continues as well, with Dick Hallorann struggling to keep IT from infiltrating his mind and General Shaw consulting with Rose about whether the entity can be controlled.
Episode Release Schedule
IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 5 will premiere on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at 9 PM ET on HBO and HBO Max. For international viewers, the episode arrives on Monday, November 24 on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.
The series is scheduled for eight episodes total, with the season finale set for December 14, 2025. This structure gives the show three more episodes to explore Pennywise’s reign of terror after his expected introduction in episode 5.
Series co-creator Andy Muschietti has revealed plans for a three-season arc that would move backward in time with each season, potentially exploring Pennywise’s impact on Derry in different eras. The second season would reportedly be set in 1935, further expanding the mythology that the first season is establishing.
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The Story So Far
The series follows the Hanlon family—Major Leroy Hanlon, his wife Charlotte, and their son Will—as they arrive in Derry just as a local boy named Matty Clements mysteriously vanishes. Their arrival coincides with a wave of strange and terrifying events consuming the town.
The story also focuses on a group of children including Lilly Bainbridge, who’s dealing with her father’s death; Ronnie Grogan, whose father Hank becomes a suspect in the disappearances; and Will Hanlon, who struggles to adapt to his new home. Meanwhile, the military, led by General Shaw, searches for a mysterious “weapon” in the woods near Derry.
Recent episodes revealed that Pennywise is trapped in Derry because the indigenous Shokopiwah people used shards of the meteorite that brought IT to Earth to confine it there. This discovery sets up the meteorite shards as a potential weapon against the creature in upcoming episodes.
With Pennywise finally stepping out of the shadows, the second half of IT: Welcome to Derry’s first season promises to heighten the horror as the children and adults of Derry confront the ancient evil beneath their town.
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