HBO Max has unveiled the first chilling trailer for Welcome to Derry, a prequel series that dives deep into the cursed roots of Stephen King’s It. Set 27 years before the events of the two blockbuster films directed by Andy Muschietti, the series explores the town’s earlier encounter with the shape-shifting entity known as Pennywise. Yes, Bill Skarsgård is back in the greasepaint, and he’s not clowning around.
The show takes inspiration from the original novel’s haunting 'interludes' — passages chronicling Derry’s dark history through the eyes of Mike Hanlon’s research into past horrors. "It’s so rich with characters and events, we thought we would do justice to the book and the fans by going back into this world," said Andy and Barbara Muschietti, who return as producers. While the familiar themes of friendship, trauma, and belief remain, the series also aims to explore fear itself — not just as an emotion, but as a tool of power.
Joining Skarsgård is a cast that includes Chris Chalk, James Remar, and Madeleine Stowe, with Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane serving as co-showrunners. Backed by Warner Bros. Television and HBO, Welcome to Derry promises to deliver a stylish, blood-soaked origin story — just in time to give your autumn nights a little more bite.
