Stephen King—The King of Horror—has captivated our imaginations for years. It seems like every year there’s a new bestselling novel or another film adaptation. So it’s no surprise that It, one of King’s most controversial and popular works, is coming back to our screens. Already a TV movie in 1990 and a two-part modern film adaptation in 2017 and 2019, It has been a fan favorite ever since Tim Curry’s chilling portrayal of the supernatural entity that preys on children.
What is surprising, though, is that this time we won’t be following the original Losers’ Club. Instead, the new TV series, Welcome to Derry, premiering on HBO and streaming on Max in the fall of 2025, will serve as a prequel to the modern film remakes. It takes place 27 years before the events of the films—not the novel—and is being developed by Andrés Muschietti (director of the films), his sister Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs.
With a trailer released a few weeks ago and rumors that the show will center around the Black Spot events from the novel (using the interlude as inspiration), there’s a lot to be excited about—including Bill Skarsgård reprising his role as Pennywise the Clown.
Set in 1962 (a departure from the novel’s 1930s timeline), Welcome to Derry explores the previous cycle before the Losers’ Club. For die-hard fans, this new backdrop opens up fresh storytelling possibilities. The racial tensions that were prominent in the novel will now intersect with Cold War anxieties and the social unrest of the ’60s. With the Black Spot nightclub as the focal point, we can expect these tensions to take center stage, not just linger in the background.
The Black Spot, a nightclub founded by Black soldiers near Derry, was a safe haven during segregation. In King’s novel, a white supremacist group called the Maine Legion of White Decency burned the club down, killing many trapped inside. One of the novel’s most chilling moments is Mike Hanlon’s father recalling a monstrous bird (a form of It) snatching people from the chaos. With the show set to feature the nightclub, fans can likely expect this terrifying moment to be brought to life on screen, perhaps revealing how Pennywise feeds on fear and stokes the flames of hatred.
To add to the excitement, while the Black Spot might be the central plot point, the Muschiettis have hinted that other historical nightmares from the novel may also appear. This could include the Bradley Gang Massacre, where Derry townsfolk slaughtered a group of bank robbers (and a certain clown was spotted in the crowd), and the Kitchener Ironworks explosion, which killed dozens of children at an Easter egg hunt. If true, Welcome to Derry looks set to deliver a “greatest hits” of Derry’s dark history.
With so much lore to explore, the series has plenty of material to sink its teeth into, like Pennywise has done so often. For die-hard fans, Welcome to Derry promises to offer something the It franchise has yet to fully deliver: a deep, rich, lore-heavy narrative that honors King’s source material.
Even more thrilling is the return of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. His performance in the films was nothing short of mesmerizing—those nightmarish grins and contortions made his version of Pennywise a modern horror icon, distinct from Tim Curry’s equally legendary portrayal. Rumors suggest Skarsgård’s return will bring an even more unhinged, untamed Pennywise to the screen.
With the Muschiettis returning as showrunners, producers, and writers, a fresh cast, a returning A-list star, and a deeper dive into the novel’s lore, Welcome to Derry looks set to capture the spirit of King’s horror while expanding on the tone of the films.
So what are fans hoping to see? A true-to-tone adaptation of King’s It, meaning a mix of heart and horror, new storylines we haven’t seen before, and a chance to see Pennywise unleashed in all his terrifying glory. We want to explore how the clown came to be. King’s story isn’t just about a cosmic being that shape-shifts to feed on fear—it’s about friendship, childhood fears, and the loss of innocence. If Welcome to Derry carries over the themes of friendship, loss, and the power of unified belief from the films, it could be something truly special.
Even better, as an HBO production, the series has the freedom to go as dark and R-rated as needed, offering a no-holds-barred portrayal of Pennywise in his most terrifying form.
For fans of the book, we’re hoping for subtle nods to King’s larger universe: hints at Maturin, the cosmic turtle, or the Ritual of Chüd. Any Easter eggs would go a long way in pleasing readers.
If the series respects the source material and delivers on its promise, we’re confident it will honor King’s legacy and be a major win for the It franchise.
So, whether you’re a die-hard Stephen King fan or simply love a good scare, mark your calendar for Welcome to Derry. We’re about to see how the nightmare began—with new characters, old evils, and an untamed Pennywise who has a much bigger canvas to terrify.
If the Losers’ Club made you fear clowns and sewers, Welcome to Derry is ready to make you float all over again—because we all float eventually. And come this fall, you’ll float too.
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