The series IT: Welcome to Derry has done much more than just introduce the world to the epic clashes directed by Andy Muschietti and delve into the history of Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård). It’s become a key connection point for Stephen King’s various stories, referencing elements from beyond Maine. The show prominently features Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk), the psychic chef from The Shining, and directly mentions the corruption within Shawshank Prison from The Shawshank Redemption. However, the biggest mystery – the white fog seen in trailers – sparked weeks of fan speculation. Many wondered if it connected to King’s novella The Mist, and now that the season has finished, we have a clear answer.
Warning: Spoilers below for IT: Welcome to Derry, Episode 8
As a longtime fan, I was really shaken up by the end of episode seven of IT: Welcome to Derry. Seeing General Shaw destroy one of the totems that kept Pennywise contained was a huge moment. Then, in the finale, everything went crazy! Pennywise clearly sensed the weakening of its prison and unleashed its full power, kidnapping almost all the kids in Derry and blanketing the town in this incredibly creepy fog. It reminded me so much of the fog from The Mist, and a lot of us fans started wondering if destroying the totem had created some kind of tear in reality – a ‘thinny’ – letting the atmosphere from Todash space leak through. Considering Pennywise is a cosmic being, it didn’t feel far-fetched at all. But the creators have finally explained what the fog actually was, and it’s interesting to get their take on it.
Although fans have speculated about a possible link between the IT universe and Stephen King’s The Mist, director Andy Muschietti has confirmed there is no connection. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Muschietti directly addressed the theory, stating he wanted to dispel any rumors. While some viewers hoping for a large crossover in the IT: Welcome to Derry series may be disappointed, Muschietti explained that the show will instead focus on the established mythology within the IT story itself.
Director Muschietti explains that the fog we see is directly connected to how the entity first arrived on Earth, a scene shown earlier in the season. He describes it as having a consistent visual pattern, originating from the asteroid impact shown in episode 4. After the explosion, the Deadlights were surrounded by a smoky fog, and the team decided to use that imagery to represent the entity’s growth. Muschietti emphasizes that the region’s indigenous people were the only thing preventing IT from spreading globally. They essentially kept IT contained. Now that the pillars are removed and the containment is broken, he wanted the fog to visually show that this powerful, supernatural force is expanding outwards.
IT: Welcome to Derry is currently available to stream on HBO Max.
Should the show have linked the strange fog to the story of The Mist, or is the existing history of IT frightening enough by itself? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion now in the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-12-15 21:42