IT: Welcome To Derry’s Main Character Decision Is Not Who We Expected

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The first season of HBO Max’s IT: Welcome to Derry surprised viewers with its choice of main character, particularly after the shocking conclusion of the premiere episode. The series, a prequel set in 1962, revisits the terrifying world of Pennywise the clown and his new victims in Derry, Maine. Unlike the films, which focused on the Losers’ Club, the show’s complex narrative makes it less clear who the central protagonist is.

In addition to bringing back Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard), Welcome to Derry featured a new group of characters – some with connections to the original Losers’ Club from the IT movies. These included Major Leroy Hanlon, Lilly Bainbridge, Ronnie, Teddy Uris, Matty Clements, and Dick Hallorann from The Shining. This cast is central to the prequel’s story and helps explain the events of 2017’s IT: Chapter One.

After the first episode unexpectedly appeared to eliminate two key characters—Teddy and Phil, along with Phil’s sister, Susie—it became unclear who the show would center on moving forward.

Is Pennywise the Main Character of ‘Welcome to Derry’? 

Despite expectations that Pennywise would be the central figure in IT: Welcome to Derry, reports suggest otherwise. Entertainment insider Daniel Richtman says the iconic clown won’t appear in his complete form until the fifth episode of the prequel series.

Even though the creature IT is heavily featured in the early parts of the series, it won’t fully appear until around the middle of the season (which has eight episodes). This suggests that Pennywise isn’t the central character of IT: Welcome to Derry, despite being prominently used in the show’s advertising.

So, Who Is the Main Character In ‘IT: Welcome to Derry’? 

The show Welcome to Derry features a large cast, and Lilly Bainbridge, who plays Clara Stack, is prominently featured in the show’s promotional materials. After the first episode appeared to eliminate the characters Teddy, Phil, and Susie, the show released a new poster featuring Rich, Marge, and Will Hanlon instead.

Considering where she’s placed on both posters, it’s likely that Lilly is the central character in “IT: Welcome to Derry.” This fits, as she seems to be Pennywise’s primary target. Lilly is still dealing with the loss of her father and has previously been a patient at Juniper Hill Asylum – the same mental institution where Henry Bowers was confined in the “IT” films.

There’s speculation that Pennywise might control Lilly, using her to carry out his plans, much like he manipulated Henry Bowers to attack the Losers’ Club in the original story. It’s also notable that Clara Stack, who plays Lilly, isn’t prominently featured in the cast listing – Jovan Adepo, playing Major Leroy Hanlon, is listed first, suggesting he’s the central adult character in the series.

The cast includes Jovan Adepo, Taylour Paige, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Blake Cameron James, Arian S. Cartaya, Amanda Christine, Matilda Lawler, Clara Stack, Madeleine Stowe, Rudy Mancuso, and Bill Skarsgård.

The portrayal of Major Hanlon as a central figure in “IT: Welcome to Derry” surprised many viewers. Trailers led fans to believe the story would primarily follow the children, so having an adult share the leading role was unexpected.

The decision to focus on the adults in the new project is unexpected. The first movie, IT: Chapter One, largely revolved around the kids, portraying the adults as secondary characters. This was because the story emphasizes that Pennywise preys on children, who are more vulnerable due to their fears. Many people therefore anticipated that this new installment, like the original movie and book, would again center on the children, with the adult storylines playing a smaller role.

The first two episodes of Welcome to Derry establish Leroy Hanlon as a compelling central character. His backstory, specifically his connection to Operation Precept—a military search for a mysterious weapon—increasingly links him to Pennywise, who is ultimately revealed as that very weapon.

Leroy Hanlon presents a unique challenge to Pennywise because a war injury – damage to his amygdala from the Korean War – has left him unable to feel fear. It’s likely these two will eventually face off, and their battle is compelling because the movie IT: Chapter One established that Leroy was still alive in 1989. This suggests he either retreated to safeguard his family or experienced a devastating loss, like the death of his wife, which explains why he was so broken in the first film.

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2025-11-03 05:35