It: Welcome to Derry — A Chilling Prequel That Rewrites Pennywise’s Story

Let’s face it: Pennywise is back—and this time, he’s arriving with layers. It: Welcome to Derry, premiering October 2025 on HBO and Max, isn’t just an origin story. It’s a full plunge into the town’s dark roots, a richly detailed six-decade trip that gives horrors new teeth, new faces, and a searing sense of dread you’ll want to survive… but won’t be able to turn away from.

Exploring the 1960s Roots of Fear

Gone are the flannel-wrapped streets of the 1980s; this iteration digs deeper. Set in 1962, Welcome to Derry tracks a family’s arrival at the edge of town—where innocence goes missing and hidden darkness stirs in the undercurrent.

You’ll meet Charlotte and Leroy Hanlon (played by Taylour Paige and Jovan Adepo) as they try to rebuild their life in Derry, right as Pennywise begins to rear his clownish head through stories, whispers, and blood in the water. We’re still talking murder and supernatural terror, but now with a lived-in, period authenticity that can make suburban textures feel suffocating.

Bill Skarsgård’s Terrifying Return

HBO wisely brought Bill Skarsgård back for this role—and he hasn’t lost an ounce of his menace. If the films showed Pennywise as masked evil, Welcome to Derry reveals a raw, almost intimate side of the clown’s otherworldly horror.

Skarsgård also steps behind the scenes as executive producer, bringing a creative hand in shaping what makes Pennywise tick, not just who he terrifies.

A Cast That Feels Real, Even in Nightmare

Alongside that commanding presence, the supporting cast gives the series its emotional core:

• Taylour Paige and Jovan Adepo anchor the story as the Hanlon parents, whose love is tested by disappearing children and town paranoia.

• Chris Chalk, James Remar, Madeleine Stowe, Stephen Rider, and Rudy Mancuso portray townsfolk steeped in secrets, guilt, and possible complicity—people who know Derry’s potential for darkness better than anyone.

• A deeper roster of recurring players fills in the gaps—teachers, lawmen, nosy neighbors—each with their own stake in the unfolding nightmares.

Nine episodes are planned, and Andy Muschietti will direct at least the first four, establishing a tone that’s equal parts haunting and heartbreaking.

Slow-Burn Horror, with Terror as Catalyst

This isn’t horror for shock’s sake. From early footage and teasers, Welcome to Derry looks designed for mood and momentum. It draws you in softly with suburban quiet, only to deliver sharp emotional jolts that make you question whether nightmares are inherited—or contagious.

Test audiences describe the pacing as “like breathing”: slow, methodical—inhaling dread, exhaling fear. That’s exactly what fans of Stephen King’s universe have come to crave.

Why This Prequel Counts

1. World-Building Done Right
   This isn’t just backstory: the mythology builds into a living ecosystem. Derry becomes a character as much as Pennywise does.

2. Character Stakes with Emotional Weight
   The Hanlons aren’t unshakable heroes—they’re flawed, frightened parents reacting in real time. Their normalcy makes the abnormal even more jarring.

3. A New Take on Familiar Themes
   Bullying, exploitation of fear, townwide complicity—these staples feel fresh when viewed through a 1962 lens.

4. Premiere Timing Perfect for Halloween
   Dropping in October 2025 ensures the show lands when the nights are longer and viewers are primed for terror.

Episode Breakdown Vibes

Production & Creative Driving Forces

Joining Bill Skarsgård behind the scenes are:

• Andy & Barbara Muschietti — architects of the original film series.

• Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane, showrunners respecting Stephen King’s craft while making the narrative feel alive and unpredictable.

• Filming took place in Toronto, with the production leaning into 1960s Americana—nostalgic, but never comforting.

Fan Buzz & Early Reactions

Teaser posters and exclusive previews have ignited fan speculation. Comic-Con attendees who saw a ten-minute clip reported gasps, uneasy laughter, and an instant desire to binge-watch as soon as possible.

Skarsgård teased in interviews that this version explores “sides of old Pennywise we’ve never seen before,” hinting at both more psychological depth and moments of unexpected vulnerability.

What’s Ahead

• Full trailer expected by late September.

• Premiere confirmed for October 2025, strategically set for peak spooky season.

• Possible setup for a second season if audience reception matches HBO’s high expectations.

Final Take

It: Welcome to Derry promises more than just an extended origin—it’s an emotional excavation of a cursed town, parents’ worst fears, and the supernatural horror that thrives in secrecy. With nine episodes of creeping menace, a stellar cast, and direction steeped in dread, this could easily become HBO’s most talked-about horror event of 2025.

Prepare to step into Derry again—and this time, the fear feels closer than ever.