Get ready to face your fears all over again—the chilling world of Stephen King’s IT is back, and this time, it’s digging deeper into the dark history of Derry. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is revisiting Pennywise’s past a stroke of genius or a recipe for overkill? The RED BAND trailer for IT: Welcome to Derry has just dropped, and it’s a haunting glimpse into the horrors that await. From the twisted circus vibes to Pennywise’s ever-shifting forms, this prequel series promises to be as unsettling as it is captivating. Watch the trailer below if you dare.
Premiering Sunday, October 26, at 9pm ET/PT on HBO and streaming on HBO Max, this eight-episode series is set in 1962, serving as a chilling prelude to the events of IT: Chapter One (2017). Directed by Andy Muschietti, who helmed the blockbuster films, Welcome to Derry expands the universe with a story rooted in Mike Hanlon’s interludes from King’s 1986 novel. These interludes document the “catastrophic events” that have plagued Derry, Maine, for decades. And this is the part most people miss: If the first season is a hit, future seasons will leap backward in time, exploring 1935 in Season 2 and 1908 in Season 3, each with its own distinct era of terror.
Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as the iconic Pennywise, joined by a stellar cast including Jovan Adepo (The Stand), Taylour Paige (The Toxic Avenger), Chris Chalk (Gotham), James Remar (Dexter), Stephen Rider (Daredevil), Madeleine Stowe (Revenge), and Rudy Mancuso (The Flash). Rounding out the ensemble are Alixandra Fuchs (Boogeyman Pop), Kimberly Guerrero (Reservation Dogs), Dorian Grey (Star Trek: Discovery), Thomas Mitchell (Spiral: From the Book of Saw), and more.
Co-showrunners Jason Fuchs (co-producer of IT: Chapter Two) and Brad Caleb Kane (Crystal Lake) are at the helm, with Fuchs penning the teleplay for the first episode. With Muschietti directing multiple episodes, the series is poised to deliver the same heart-pounding tension fans have come to expect.
But here’s the question: Can Welcome to Derry capture the magic of the films while carving out its own identity? Or will it fall into the trap of over-explaining the mysteries that made Pennywise so terrifying in the first place? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—are you excited to return to Derry, or do you think some doors are better left closed?
