If you thought Pennywise had finished haunting your nightmares, think again. IT: Welcome to Derry is here to pull you right back into the terrifying, twisted world that started with Stephen King’s legendary novel and became a modern horror phenomenon. As one of the most anticipated HBO Max horror series of 2025, this prequel is already making waves across the internet and for good reason. It promises to explore the chilling Pennywise origin story, expand the IT franchise mythology, and give horror fans a front-row seat to the darkness beneath the small town of Derry.
So, why should IT: Welcome to Derry be on your fall watchlist? Let’s dive into what makes this upcoming IT prequel series one of the most exciting TV events of the year.
The Return to Derry: Where Fear Began
The fictional town of Derry, Maine, has always been more than just a setting it’s practically a character itself in the Stephen King universe. Every 27 years, something evil awakens beneath its streets, feeding on fear and tragedy. IT: Welcome to Derry takes us back decades before the events of IT: Chapter One and IT: Chapter Two, showing how the nightmare first began.
Set in the 1960s, the Welcome to Derry plot will explore the origins of the curse that has plagued the town for generations. This means we might finally uncover how Pennywise came to be not just as a killer clown, but as a cosmic entity born from something far older and darker.
Inside the Origins: What the IT Prequel Series Reveals About Pennywise’s Past
Fans have always been fascinated by the enigma of Pennywise. Who or what is he really? IT: Welcome to Derry promises to dig deep into this question. While the movies hinted that Pennywise is a manifestation of an ancient evil, the IT prequel series will dive further into the Pennywise origin story and the mythology surrounding it.
There are rumors that the series will explore how the entity first arrived on Earth, possibly thousands of years ago, and how it adapted to feed on human fear. Some fan theories even suggest that we might meet Pennywise before he took the clown form perhaps as a shadowy force manipulating Derry’s earliest settlers.
And yes, for everyone wondering there’s a chance we might see Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise return. Although HBO has been tight-lipped, Skarsgård’s involvement would be a major win for fans who consider his haunting grin and unsettling voice a modern horror icon.
From Film to Series: Expanding the IT Movies’ Mythology
The IT movies connection is one of the most exciting aspects of Welcome to Derry. Both films directed by Andy Muschietti gave us a terrifying yet emotional journey, and this new series promises to continue that legacy while expanding on it. Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti, the sibling duo behind the films, are executive producers so you can expect the same visual tone and psychological dread that made the movies unforgettable.
Through the IT: Welcome to Derry trailer, fans got glimpses of familiar aesthetics red balloons floating through empty streets, flickering lights, and unsettling whispers. But this time, the focus won’t just be on Pennywise. The show will dive deeper into Derry’s residents, its history, and the mysterious cycle of tragedy that seems to repeat every few decades.
This IT franchise expansion means we’re not just getting another horror story we’re witnessing the birth of a full-fledged mythology. Think of it as Stranger Things meets The Conjuring, but with a uniquely Stephen King flavor of cosmic terror.
Meet the Cast: The Faces Behind the Fear
The IT series cast brings together a talented mix of fresh faces and seasoned actors a perfect blend of new energy and emotional depth that promises to keep viewers on edge. Here’s a closer look at who’s who in IT: Welcome to Derry:
- Taylour Paige – Known for her breakout performances in Zola and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Paige plays one of the central characters in Derry. Her role explores the emotional cost of confronting evil and the trauma that lingers long after the horror fades.
- Jovan Adepo – You may recognize Adepo from Watchmen and Overlord. In this series, he portrays a determined Derry local trying to uncover the town’s dark secrets even if it means facing Pennywise’s legacy head-on.
- Chris Chalk – A familiar face from Gotham and Perry Mason, Chalk takes on the role of a journalist piecing together the mystery behind Derry’s curse. His investigative journey blurs the line between truth and terror.
- James Remar – The veteran actor from Dexter and The Warriors lends gravitas to the cast, playing an older resident who knows far more about Derry’s haunting past than he’s willing to admit.
Each of these characters experiences the creeping evil of Derry from different perspectives some as victims, some as survivors, and some as unwitting participants in Pennywise’s nightmare. Together, their performances promise to explore not just horror, but the deeper themes of grief, fear, loss, and the fragile balance between sanity and madness.
The Release Date: When and Where to Watch
The IT: Welcome to Derry release date has been officially set for October 27, 2025, perfectly timed for Halloween weekend. The show will premiere exclusively on HBO Max, making it a highlight of the must-watch horror shows 2025 lineup.
Each episode will likely drop weekly, keeping fans hooked with cliffhangers and theories about how the events of the series will connect back to the films. Whether you’re watching alone in the dark or hosting a spooky viewing party, this show is destined to be the centerpiece of your fall binge list.
The Themes: Fear, Trauma, and the Cycle of Evil
While IT has always been about fear on the surface, its deeper meaning lies in trauma how individuals and communities process it, suppress it, and pass it down. Welcome to Derry expands on these psychological themes, showing how the town’s denial and silence allow evil to thrive.
This layered storytelling makes the series more than just another horror spin-off. It becomes a reflection of societal cycles, where unspoken horrors keep resurfacing until they are confronted. In that way, IT: Welcome to Derry isn’t just terrifying it’s hauntingly relevant.
Pennywise: More Than a Monster
It’s impossible to talk about IT: Welcome to Derry without focusing on its terrifying centerpiece Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Whether or not Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise returns, the series will surely continue to build upon the legend he created. Pennywise isn’t just a monster; he’s a metaphor for fear itself shapeless, timeless, and always watching.
In this HBO Max horror series, expect the clown to appear in unexpected forms, feeding on human insecurities and moral decay. This psychological element, paired with Stephen King’s cosmic horror roots, ensures that every episode will leave you both terrified and fascinated.
What Fans Can Expect: Easter Eggs and Expanded Lore
Die-hard fans can look forward to plenty of hidden connections. The IT lore explained in this series will reference other corners of the Stephen King universe, including nods to The Dark Tower and Castle Rock. These subtle Easter eggs tie King’s interconnected worlds together, rewarding longtime readers and viewers alike.
If you’re the kind of fan who loves dissecting details, this series will keep you busy. Every symbol, balloon, and sewer shadow might mean something and that’s what makes IT: Welcome to Derry such an immersive horror experience.
Early Reviews and Expectations
The buzz around the IT: Welcome to Derry review circuit has been overwhelmingly positive. Early test screenings and behind-the-scenes reports describe it as “visually stunning,” “psychologically intense,” and “deeply emotional.”
Fans of the original films will appreciate how it balances nostalgia with new storytelling, while newcomers will find it accessible enough to jump right in. With its high production values, compelling cast, and emotional depth, it’s shaping up to be one of the best horror TV shows of the decade.
Why You Can’t Miss It
At its core, IT: Welcome to Derry isn’t just a horror story it’s a study of human fear, resilience, and the things we try to bury but can never escape. It honors the IT movies connection while carving its own terrifying path forward.
If you’re a fan of complex storytelling, unsettling imagery, and the kind of horror that lingers long after the screen fades to black, this series is your next obsession.
So, get ready to float again. Because this fall, the sewers of Derry are calling and Pennywise is waiting.
Final Thoughts
With its October 27 release on HBO Max, IT: Welcome to Derry stands poised to dominate the horror landscape in 2025. Between its deep dive into Pennywise’s origins, its connection to the IT franchise expansion, and its bold exploration of fear as an art form, it’s set to be the defining IT TV show 2025.
If you dare, step back into the nightmare because this time, the story doesn’t just revisit the fear.
It reveals it.