What Is Welcome to Derry — and Why Everyone Is Talking About It
Welcome to Derry is HBO’s supernatural horror prequel series set in the terrifying fictional town from Stephen King’s legendary 1986 novel It. It premiered on October 26, 2025, and quickly became one of the most-watched debuts in HBO history.
Here’s a quick snapshot of everything you need to know:
- What it is: A prequel TV series expanding the story of Pennywise the Dancing Clown and the cursed town of Derry, Maine
- When it’s set: 1962 — decades before the events of the 2017 and 2019 It films
- Where to watch: HBO (also available on Max)
- Who’s in it: Bill Skarsgård returns as Pennywise, joined by Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, and Taylour Paige
- Who made it: Created by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs — the same team behind the hit films
- How it’s been received: 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61/100 on Metacritic, and 5.7 million viewers in its first three days
The show pulls directly from the interlude chapters of King’s novel — the parts that explore Derry’s dark history long before the Losers’ Club ever faced Pennywise. It blends Cold War paranoia, Native American mythology, military conspiracies, and deeply personal horror into a story that feels both familiar and completely new.
It’s ambitious. It’s unsettling. And for horror fans and King devotees alike, it’s essential viewing.
The Origins and Premise of Welcome to Derry
At its heart, welcome to derry is a deep dive into the “why” of Derry’s curse. While the films focused on the 1980s and the modern day, this series transports us to 1962. This was a time of immense social change and Cold War anxiety, providing a perfect backdrop for an ancient evil to feed.
The series explores the origins of “Bob Gray,” the human persona often associated with Pennywise, and introduces a fascinating military angle. We learn of a secret U.S. Army project involving a fear-immune Major who believes the eldritch horrors beneath Derry can be weaponized against the Soviets. It is a classic King-esque setup: human greed and military hubris meeting an incomprehensible cosmic nightmare.
For fans wanting the official details on the production, you can visit WarnerBros.com | IT: Welcome to Derry | TV to see how the studio has positioned this expansion of the franchise.
Connecting to the IT Movie Universe
The series acts as a bridge and a foundation. Developed by Andy Muschietti (who directed the 2017 and 2019 films) along with Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs, the show maintains the visual language and atmosphere of the “Muschietti-verse.”
By focusing on the interlude chapters of the novel—the historical accounts of Derry’s tragedies—the creators have expanded the lore without merely rehashing the Losers’ Club story. We see the town not just as a setting, but as an extension of the entity itself.
Exploring New Lore in Welcome to Derry
One of the most compelling additions to the lore is the involvement of the Wabanaki tribe. The series introduces Native American mythology into the mix, portraying the tribe not as victims, but as “active protectors” who have known about the entity for centuries.
We also get a much deeper look at the Black Spot massacre, a pivotal event in Derry’s history involving racial violence and the death of many Black soldiers. The show uses this to provide biting social commentary on how human hatred and intolerance act as a “dinner bell” for Pennywise. Furthermore, fans were thrilled by the IT: Welcome to Derry Reveals Dick Hallorann’s London Hotel Twist , which connects the series to The Shining through the character of Dick Hallorann, further knitting together the Stephen King multiverse.
Cast, Crew, and the Return of Pennywise
The most significant news for many was the return of Bill Skarsgård. Not only does he step back into the oversized shoes of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, but he also serves as an Executive Producer. His portrayal remains as haunting as ever, though the series also explores Pennywise as an “alien feeder,” appearing in symbolic manifestations like a demonic two-headed baby to represent the nuclear fears of the 1960s.
Reprising Iconic Roles for Welcome to Derry
The ensemble cast brings a grounded, human element to the supernatural chaos. Key cast members include:
- Jovan Adepo and Chris Chalk: Providing powerful performances that anchor the 1960s storyline.
- Taylour Paige and Stephen Rider: Portraying citizens caught in the town’s tightening grip.
- James Remar: Bringing a veteran presence to the military subplots.
- Joan Gregson: Reprising her role as elderly Ingrid. Sadly, this was Gregson’s final performance before her passing in June 2025, making her scenes particularly poignant for fans.
The Creative Visionaries Behind the Scenes
The technical execution of welcome to derry is top-tier. Rodeo FX handled the visual effects, creating everything from the “Pickle Monster” to the surreal, nightmare-fueled manifestations of the characters’ traumas. Their work earned the series a Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Character in an Episodic Project.
The auditory experience is equally vital. Benjamin Wallfisch returned to compose the score, releasing four volumes of soundtracks that capture the transition from 1960s nostalgia to pure, unadulterated dread.
Production History and Lore Expansion
The road to Derry wasn’t easy. Production began in May 2023 but was significantly delayed by the SAG-AFTRA strike. This created a unique challenge: the child actors grew noticeably during the hiatus. When filming resumed in Toronto and Port Hope, the creators had to rewrite portions of the finale and reshoot 90% of three episodes to account for the aging cast and the change in seasons.
Deepening the Stephen King Universe
To ensure cultural accuracy, the production hired John Bear Mitchell, a Penobscot Nation consultant. This was crucial for the depiction of the Wabanaki culture, ensuring they were shown as active guardians against the evil rather than passive observers. This adds a layer of “ancestral knowledge” to the fight against Pennywise, suggesting that while the entity is ancient, so is the resistance against it.
Critical Reception and Viewership Performance
The series has been a certified hit for HBO. Critics have praised the atmospheric direction and the performances of both Skarsgård and the younger cast.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 80% Tomatometer (based on 96 reviews) and an 82% Popcornmeter.
- Metacritic: 61/100, indicating “generally favorable” reviews.
- Viewership: The pilot drew 5.7 million viewers in its first three days. By the end of the season, it averaged 10.7 million viewers per episode, making it the third most-watched debut on HBO, trailing only House of the Dragon and The Last of Us.
Comparing Welcome to Derry to Other HBO Hits
The show’s performance has been remarkable, showing a 60% audience increase with each passing episode. The season finale reached a staggering 6.5 million viewers on its premiere night. This success led to a nomination for Best Horror Television Series at the Saturn Awards, cementing its place as a heavyweight in the genre.
Frequently Asked Questions about Welcome to Derry
Is Welcome to Derry a direct prequel to the movies?
Yes. It is set in 1962, exactly one 27-year cycle before the events of the first It movie (which took place in 1989). It uses the same continuity established by the Muschietti films.
Who plays Pennywise in the new series?
Bill Skarsgård returns to the role. However, the series also explores the entity in forms other than the clown, including its “Bob Gray” persona and more animalistic, alien manifestations.
How many episodes are in the first season?
The first season consists of eight episodes, each running between 54 and 66 minutes. It premiered on HBO and Max on October 26, 2025.
Conclusion
Welcome to Derry has successfully done the impossible: it expanded on one of the most beloved horror stories of all time without losing the soul of the source material. By blending the 1960s setting with deep lore about Pennywise’s origins and the town’s cursed history, it has created a legacy of its own.
With Season 2 already in the works—rumored to be set in 1935 during the Great Depression and the Bradley Gang massacre—the nightmare is far from over. We at R. Couri Hay Creative Public Relations are thrilled to see such high-caliber storytelling thrive. For those who love the intersection of pop culture and high-end entertainment, be sure to check out More info about gossip and lifestyle stories on our main site.
Derry may be a place of nightmares, but for television fans, it’s a dream come true.
