Pennywise the Dancing Clown is returning in a new series called IT: Welcome to Derry on HBO, six years after the release of IT: Chapter Two. The original IT movies, directed by Andy Muschietti, were huge hits, and fans have been waiting for a continuation. This series, created by Andy and Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs, revisits the town of Derry, Maine, where a young boy vanishes and eerie events start unfolding.
Unlike IT: Chapter Two, which jumped forward 27 years from the first IT movie, Welcome to Derry goes back in time. Most of the story unfolds in April 1962, exactly 27 years before the events of the original film. This timeframe is significant because that’s how long Pennywise, the entity known as It, typically waits between periods of activity. The series also includes connections to the main story: Leroy Hanlon, the grandfather of Losers Club member Mike Hanlon, is a key character. Additionally, the first episode features a subtle hint about Alvin Marsh, Beverly’s father.
IT: Welcome To Derry‘s Timeline Will Likely Change For Future Seasons
The timeline for ‘Welcome to Derry’ follows changes made to Stephen King’s novel in the ‘IT’ movies. The book starts in the 1950s, but the films moved the story to the 1980s. This allowed the sequel to feel more current when it was released and also let the movies capitalize on the 1980s nostalgia popular in the 2010s, much like the show ‘Stranger Things’ which was also inspired by King’s work.
The 1960s setting for the new series will allow for a deeper exploration of Stephen King’s themes, focusing on both the story of Pennywise and a new group of young characters. A key storyline that will be featured is the arson of The Black Spot, a nightclub popular with Black patrons, carried out by white supremacists. The show will also delve into the social and political climate of the time, including the Civil Rights Movement, the racism present in Derry, and the anxieties surrounding the Cold War and nuclear threats, making real-world issues as frightening as the supernatural elements.
The show’s success leaves the possibility open for future installments. Although it hasn’t been officially renewed, plans are in development for IT: Welcome to Derry to span three seasons. Each season would move further back in time – 27 years at a time – to reveal more about Pennywise and the town of Derry. Director Andy Muschietti told Deadline he envisioned a story with layers, like an iceberg, unfolding across all three seasons. He explained that future seasons will expand the show’s mythology, answer key questions, and hint at the reasons for the backwards storytelling as early as the end of the first season.
If a second season of Welcome to Derry is made, it will be set in 1935. The planned third season would then conclude the story in 1908. Including the two existing movies, this would cover more than 100 years of Pennywise’s history on screen.
The first episode of IT: Welcome to Derry, titled Season 1, Episode 1, premieres tonight at 9pm Eastern Time on HBO and HBO Max. The season will have eight episodes in total.
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2025-10-26 23:17