Pennywise is coming back. It’s been years since Bill Skarsgård haunted our nightmares in the record-breaking It duology, but Max (formerly HBO Max) is finally pulling us back into the sewers. The show is called Welcome to Derry. Actually, it’s technically titled It: Welcome to Derry now. The name change happened recently, likely to make sure every casual fan knows exactly what they’re getting into when they scroll through their streaming queue.
Derry is a mess. If you’ve read Stephen King’s 1986 doorstopper of a novel, you know the town is basically a sentient character. It’s rotten. It’s mean. It’s a place where adults look the other way while kids disappear. This show isn't just a quick cash grab; it’s an expansion of the world Andy Muschietti built on the big screen.
Why a Prequel Makes Total Sense for the It Universe
Most horror prequels feel unnecessary. We didn't really need to know where Leatherface got his first chainsaw, right? But It is different. The entity—Pennywise, the Deadlights, whatever you want to call it—operates on a 27-year cycle. This means there are centuries of "Derry stories" buried in the archives of the town library.
Andy Muschietti is back. So is his sister, Barbara Muschietti. They are the architects here. Having the original director involved is a massive relief for fans who worried the TV show might lose the cinematic scale of the films. The story reportedly kicks off in the 1960s. This is crucial. In the books, the 1960s (or the 50s in the original text) was when the Losers' Club first encountered Pennywise. But this show aims to look at the cycle before that.
Think about the Black Spot. In King’s lore, the Black Spot was a nightclub frequented by Black soldiers that was burned down by a racist cult. It’s one of the most harrowing sequences in the book. Set photos and casting calls have heavily hinted that this era—and specifically the racial tensions of Derry in the 60s—will play a central role. It’s grounded horror. The monster is scary, but the people are often worse.
Bill Skarsgård and the Return of the Dancing Clown
For a while, we weren't sure if Bill Skarsgård would put the greasepaint back on. He was playing coy in interviews. He’d say things like, "We'll see," or mention that he hadn't been contacted yet.
He lied. Or maybe he just didn't have a contract yet. Regardless, it is now confirmed: Bill Skarsgård is Pennywise in Welcome to Derry.
This is huge. Replacing him would have been a disaster. Skarsgård’s performance wasn't just about the jump scares; it was that weird, drooling, wall-eyed physicality that made him feel truly alien. Seeing him back in the suit—which will likely look a little different since it’s a different era—is the main selling point.
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The cast around him is stacked with talent you’ve definitely seen before but might not know by name. Taylour Paige (Zola), Jovan Adepo (Watchmen), and James Remar (Dexter) are all on board. Adepo, in particular, is a phenomenal actor who brings a lot of gravitas to everything he touches. If he’s playing a resident of Derry dealing with a supernatural clown and 1960s systemic racism, we’re in for some heavy lifting.
What Is the Story Actually About?
The plot is being kept under wraps tighter than a balloon in a storm drain. However, we can piece things together. The official logline says the series will "expand the vision" of the films.
We’re likely looking at an origin story for the town’s curse. In the books, Pennywise arrived on Earth via a prehistoric meteor crash. He slept for ages. When humans finally showed up and built a town, he woke up and started snacking. Welcome to Derry has a chance to show us the "awakening" of the monster in a way the movies only touched on through Mike Hanlon's research.
Expect blood. Max is letting the creators go full TV-MA. The It films were already pretty gory (remember the bathroom scene?), but television allows for a slower burn. We get to sit with the characters. We get to see the dread settle into the bones of the neighborhood.
The Derry Timeline: Where Does This Fit?
The show is set in the 1960s, leading up to the events of It: Chapter One (which took place in 1988/89 in the movie timeline).
- The 1960s: The primary setting for the show.
- The 1980s: When Bill, Bev, Ben, Richie, Eddie, Mike, and Stan first fight It.
- The 2010s: When the Losers return as adults to finish the job.
By focusing on the 60s, the show avoids stepping on the toes of the Losers' Club. We don't want to see a "young Bill Denbrough" because that story is already told. We want new victims. New stakes. We want to know why Derry became so complacent in its own evil.
Is Stephen King Involved?
King is notoriously hands-off with adaptations lately unless he’s really into them. He’s given his blessing, though. On Twitter (X), he’s expressed excitement about the Muschiettis returning to his playground.
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He likes the world. He spent decades building it. Between It, Insomnia, and 11/22/63, Derry is the center of the King multiverse. There’s even a chance we see Easter eggs for other King properties. Could we see a reference to the Turtle? Or maybe a nod to a certain car from a town nearby? Fans are already scouring every teaser frame for a hint of the "Maturin" lore that the movies mostly skipped.
Production Challenges and the Long Wait
This hasn't been a smooth ride. The 2023 strikes pushed production back significantly. Fans were originally hoping for a 2024 release, but now we’re looking at 2025.
Filming took place largely in Port Hope, Ontario—the same town that stood in for Derry in the movies. They’ve rebuilt the sets. They’ve brought back the iconic facades. If you go there during filming, you’ll see the "Paul Bunyan" statue and the "Derry" signs everywhere. It’s a massive production.
The budget is also reportedly quite high for a horror series. Max is positioning this as a "tentpole" show, similar to how they treat The Last of Us or House of the Dragon. This isn't a low-budget slasher; it’s a sprawling period piece with a monster at the center.
The Aesthetic: Not Just a Retread
One worry fans have is that the show will just look like "more of the same." But the 1960s setting allows for a different visual palette. Think of the saturated, grainy look of the era. The clothes, the cars, the music—it all provides a contrast to the cosmic horror.
Composer Benjamin Wallfisch’s work on the films was iconic. His "Pennywise theme" is instantly recognizable. While we don't have a confirmed composer for the series yet, the sound design will likely lean heavily into that established musical language. You hear that high-pitched, childish circus music, and you know exactly who is behind the corner.
Addressing the "Origin" Misconception
Some people think this is a "Pennywise Origin Story." It’s probably not that simple. Pennywise isn't a person. He doesn't have a tragic backstory where he was a lonely clown who got bullied. He’s an interdimensional predator.
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The "origin" is more likely about the relationship between the monster and the town. It’s about how Derry became a place that allows a monster to exist. It’s about the first few times the townspeople realized something was wrong and chose to do nothing. That is the real horror of Derry.
How to Prepare for the Premiere
If you want to be ready for Welcome to Derry, don't just rewatch the movies.
- Read the Book (if you have time): The novel goes into much more detail about the 1906 kitchener ironworks explosion and the 1929 shootout of the Bradley Gang. These are the kinds of events the show is likely to explore.
- Watch the 1990 Miniseries: Just for the vibes. Tim Curry’s Pennywise is a different beast entirely, but it helps to see how Derry has been interpreted over the decades.
- Check out "The World of It": There are several behind-the-scenes books and documentaries about the making of the Muschietti films. They give you a sense of the visual logic being used in the new show.
What This Means for the Future of Stephen King on TV
Success here means more "Universe" expansions. If Welcome to Derry hits big, expect to see more "Town" shows. Maybe a Castle Rock revival or something set in Jerusalem’s Lot.
Streaming needs "IP" (Intellectual Property), and Stephen King is the gold mine that never runs dry. But It is the crown jewel. It’s the highest-grossing horror franchise for a reason. People are fascinated by the duality of the clown—the childhood joy turned into a jagged-toothed nightmare.
The wait is almost over. Pretty soon, we’ll all be floating again.
Practical Steps for Fans
Keep your eyes on Max's official social media channels for the first full-length trailer. So far, we’ve only had "first look" sizzle reels. A full trailer will likely reveal the specific year the show begins and give us our first real look at the new cast in action against Skarsgård.
Check your local listings for "It" marathons. Usually, when a big show like this launches, streamers will put the original movies front and center. It’s a good time to refresh your memory on the lore of the "Deadlights" and the "Ritual of Chüd," as these high-concept ideas might finally get the screen time they deserve in a serialized format.
Finally, manage your expectations regarding the "Kids on Bikes" trope. While It helped popularize that vibe, the prequel seems to be aiming for something slightly more adult and gritty. This is Derry at its peak corruption. It won't be pretty, but it will definitely be worth the watch.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Sign up for a Max subscription if you don't already have one, as this is an exclusive original.
- Revisit the 1960s-era chapters of the It novel to familiarize yourself with the Black Spot and the Silver Dollar lore.
- Monitor casting news for any late-stage additions that might hint at ties to the original Losers' Club's parents.