IT: Welcome to Derry: All About the Prequel and How It Connects to the Original Horror Movie

Mar. 15, 2025

‘IT: Welcome to Derry.'.Photo:Brooke Palmer/HBO

Brooke Palmer/HBO

There’s more whereItcame from.

The series will premiere on HBO and be available to stream on Max in 2025.Jovan AdepoandTaylour Paigewill join the franchise as leads withBill Skarsgårdreprising his role as Pennywise.

Here’s everything to know aboutIT: Welcome to Derryand how it connects to the original horror movie.

What isIT: Welcome to Derryabout?

‘IT: Welcome to Derry.'.Brooke Palmer/HBO

In the second of the two-part adaptation of King’s horror classicIt,Mike Hanlon’s father tells him tales that outline early sightings of “It” — the entity that has haunted the town of Derry for generations. This prompts Mike to track down its origin through interviews with the older people in the town.

In King’s novel, he presents Mike’s research in “interludes,” bouncing between the main storyline of Pennywise and the Loser’s Club. These mini-stories became the inspiration for the nine-episode prequel series.

Muschietti toldEWthat, like the originalItmovies,Welcome to Derrywill touch on themes of “friendship, loss [and] the power of unified belief.”

“But this story focuses also on the use of fear as a weapon, which is one of the things that is also relevant to our times,” he added.

According toEW, the storyline will play out in 1962 — the year the Black Spot burned down — placing the series 27 years before the events of the firstItmovie and centering the Black Spot’s demise as the event that other stories are built around.

“Twenty-seven years is the dormant period of Pennywise,” the filmmakers toldEW. “It’s a different part of American history with a new set of fears for children, as well as adults having in mind the cost of the Cold War.”

Who will be in the cast ofIT: Welcome to Derry?

Jovan Adepo; Taylour Paige; Bill Skarsgård.JC Olivera/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty; Jon Kopaloff/Getty

JC Olivera/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty; Jon Kopaloff/Getty

Deadlinereported that the cast also includes Alixandra Fuchs, Kimberly Guerrero, Dorian Grey, Thomas Mitchell, BJ Harrison, Peter Outerbridge, Shane Marriott, Chad Rook, Joshua Odjick and Morningstar Angeline.

As for the original cast, only Skarsgård is set to reprise his role as Pennywise — and join the team in executive producing.

Who is directingIT: Welcome to Derry?

Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti on August 29, 2019 in Toronto, Canada.GP Images/Getty

GP Images/Getty

In addition, Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane will serve as co-showrunners and executive producers.

Where can I watchIT: Welcome to Derry?

IT: Welcome to Derrywill premiere on HBO and stream on Max.

Itcan be streamed on Max, whileIt: Chapter Twois available for streaming on Netflix.

When willIT: Welcome to Derrybe released?

IT: Welcome to Derryis set to be released in 2025, but no date has been set yet.

source: people.com