‘It’ Prequel Creators Reveal Series Will Feel Closer to Stephen King’s Book

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I’m so excited for the new Stephen King adaptation, *It: Welcome to Derry*! It’s coming out on October 26th and it’s going to delve into the history of Derry, exploring what happened *before* the events of the movies from 2017 and 2019. Instead of continuing the story, this HBO Max series is actually a prequel, taking us back to 1962 – a time we only got a glimpse of in the original book. From what I’ve heard, it’s going to be much more faithful to the source material, both in how it looks and the story it tells, and I can’t wait to see it!

I was so excited to hear the Muschietti siblings talk about the new series at New York Comic Con! According to The Hollywood Reporter, they and the cast really shared a lot of details with fans, and it got everyone buzzing. Andy explained something I’ve been hoping for – that this series will actually feel much more like the book than the movies did. It’s great to know they’re staying true to the source material!

As a film buff, I’m really excited about this new season. It feels like a return to the roots of the original story, almost like revisiting 1958, which was so close in tone to 1962. We weren’t able to fully capture that era in the movie, but we’re getting there now. This season really nails the atmosphere and overall feel of the book, even with a new set of characters. You’ll find that some of them are connected to the originals through family lines and shared histories – there are some pretty significant reveals coming up!

Barbara shared that Stephen King approved of their adaptation, saying he understood their approach and appreciated their work. Andy explained that the book’s flashbacks served as a guide for the show, but *It: Welcome to Derry* functions as a separate, unfolding mystery—a story revealed in reverse, culminating in the origin of Pennywise. He hinted at a deeper reason for this backward storytelling, saying, “There’s a reason and a secret why we’re telling the story backward. I can’t tell you now. I guess you have to see the show.”

“We Started Speculating About the Origin Story of Pennywise”


HBO Max

The series *Welcome to Derry* stands out because it isn’t a direct adaptation of a Stephen King novel. While it draws inspiration from his 1986 novel *It*, the showrunners focused on a particular section of the book. Director Andy Muschietti explains the inspiration went beyond just that part, and his conversations with Bill Skarsgård, who plays Pennywise, helped him realize the villain’s backstory needed further exploration.

It all began as we were wrapping up filming on *It Chapter Two*. Bill Skarsgård and I started having these strange, creative talks – we were still buzzing from the experience of making the movie. We began to wonder about the backstory of Pennywise, imagining a new story that would show how he became the clown we all fear. We also talked a lot about Bob Gray, the mysterious character, and what part he played in the history of It. That’s where it all started – just us brainstorming ideas.

I’m particularly drawn to the interludes within the book, as they serve a clear purpose. I discovered they hint at an intentionally unresolved puzzle. Stephen King often uses mysteries to build suspense, but I began to see these interludes as potentially outlining a completely separate story. For those unfamiliar, these interludes feature Mike Hanlon, the member of the Losers’ Club who remains in town, portrayed by Isaiah Mustafa in *It Chapter Two* and Chosen Jacobs in the first *It* film.

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2025-10-12 23:25