Info in Movie News | Fall is shaping up to be a frightening season for horror fans. HBO Max is going to release a prequel series IT: Welcome to Derry following the two successful It movies on the big screen. The series, which retains the same dark atmosphere that made Stephen King’s name a household name, promises to uncover the origins of Pennywise’s terror further and to make more extensive connections to King’s wider universe.
According to Deadline, the last trailer for IT: Welcome to Derry has been made public by HBO Max. The series represents the very much awaited comeback of Bill Skarsgård as the killing clown of the scary genre, a character that Andy Muschietti’s It movies gave him a lot of critical recognition. Besides, Skarsgård is not only redoing his role but also acting as an executive producer, thereby, the change of mood and interpretation put forward by new ground being explored remain loyal to the original.
The trailer is a time travel back to 1962, the period before the two It movies' events. From the outside, Derry is a small town that is little less of a paradise but what's inside is very different. In one chilling moment, a child asks, “Do you think somebody could kidnap a kid and keep him underground? In the sewers?” That disturbing tune anticipates the comeback of Pennywise, his characteristic red balloon hiding a wicked smile.
The miniseries is available from October 27th, 2025 with viewing of the first episode to be reached. The timing of Skarsgård’s return is very important, and his decision to come back is seen as one of the main reasons that his performance as Pennywise has already set the bar for horror pop culture in a very high way. To sum up, his ghost-like figure, disturbing voice, and awful aura made Pennywise as one of the most memorable horror characters over the last several years. By bringing him back for a TV series, they are now able to dig into things that the movies just briefly mention about Pennywise’s background.
One thing about Welcome to Derry that makes it so captivating is the very fact that it decides to delve into the larger world of the Stephen King’s universe outside of the confines of the single book. The new trailer is filled with Easter eggs and connections to other King works. The references to Shawshank State Penitentiary (The Shawshank Redemption) seen from a prison bus, the arrival of Dick Hallorann from The Shining, are some of the signs that the series is implying a shared King universe. One of the scary scenes is the entire town of Derry being shrouded in a sinister fog, giving rise to fan theories about a crossover with The Mist.
The arrival of Skarsgård to the cast has injected new life into the project. Alongside him, there are Taylour Paige (Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F), Jovan Adepo (Babylon), James Remar (Dexter: Resurrection), Madeleine Stowe (The Last of the Mohicans), Stephen Rider (Luke Cage), and Rudy Mancuso (Música), who play the main characters. The It movies centered the Losers’ Club heavily, whereas the series has decided to base the new characters on those who have to deal with the terror of Derry, hence, the fans have now the opportunity to witness Pennyswise from another angle.
Behind the camera, the project is helmed by familiar creative forces. Andy Muschietti went on to direct both It movies and is co-creator again with his sister Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs. Fuchs writing the teleplay for the first episode and also being co-showrunner along with Brad Caleb Kane made their commitment to transferring the genes of the blockbuster movies into this series and still keeping the slower, more in-depth storytelling that TV has.
In a previous interview, Andy Muschietti revealed that Welcome to Derry is designed as a multi-season story, potentially spanning three seasons. Each season will draw from “interludes” in Stephen King’s novel, which detail the cyclical history of Pennywise’s appearances. Season one revolves around the events of 1962, though a second season could potentially cover 1935 and a third 1908 if the show gets extended. By doing this, the show can gradually uncover the history of Pennywise that goes as far back as the incidents that started it all such as the fire at the Black Spot nightclub and the Kitchener Ironworks explosion that killed people.
Meanwhile, HBO Max is leaning heavily into Stephen King’s library this fall. Alongside Welcome to Derry, the streamer will also add Firestarter (1984), the supernatural thriller starring a young Drew Barrymore, to its catalog starting October 1. The timing makes October feel like “Stephen King season,” giving fans both a brand-new series and a return to one of King’s lesser-known but cult-favorite adaptations.
With Bill Skarsgård back at the center, an ensemble cast of fresh faces, and creative ties to Andy Muschietti’s vision, IT: Welcome to Derry has all the makings of a must-watch horror event. It’s not just another battle against Pennywise and his red balloon, it’s an exploration of how a seemingly ordinary small town hides centuries of blood-soaked secrets.
IT: Welcome to Derry premieres October 27, 2025, exclusively on HBO Max.
Post a Comment